- checking login information
Loading...What to Do When You See A Dog in a Hot Car
Editor’s note: This post was originally published on June 30, 2012. We are republishing it for your reading pleasure, and just in time for the summer heat. Enjoy!
Most of us are all too familiar with the feeling of dread that comes upon us when we pass by the window of a car and realize that a dog has been left inside on a hot day. What should I do? Do I break the window? Do I call the police? Do I try to find the car owner? There’s no easy answer, unfortunately, and those decisions are ones that only you can make, but now you can be better prepared for your next encounter.
“My Dog is Cool” is a campaign designed by the RedRover animal protection charity to educate people about the dangers hot weather poses to dogs. Through their “Don’t Leave Me in Here — It’s Hot!” fliers and posters, you can have what you need on hand to try and influence the behavior of dog guardians who need a reminder about the dangers of hot cars. These are great to place on a windsheild of an offender’s vehicle or to hang on the door of a local business willing to notify their customers that leaving pets in the car is not okay during warm weather.
RedRover advises that if you see a dog in distress in a hot car, you should call the local animal control agency, police or 911 right away and, if possible, you can also try to find the dog’s owner by going into the adjacent business and making an announcement.
RedRover provides the following signs of an animal who is in danger of death by heatstroke:
- Excessive panting
- Excessive drooling
- Increased heart rate
- Trouble breathing
- Disorientation
- Collapse or loss of consciousness
- Seizure
- Respiratory arrest
According to RedRover, at least 14 states and many municipalities have laws that specifically address the problem of animals left in cars in extreme temperatures. And some states without these provisions may consider leaving an animal in an enclosed car to be animal cruelty. However, many of us have hit a road block when calling the police to report these crimes as the dispatcher or the department itself often don’t consider these situations a priority. Heat stroke can take hold in just 10 minutes or less, so sometimes the dog simply cannot wait for authorities who may or may not be on the way.
The last time I came upon a dog in a hot car, I waited by the vehicle for the owner to appear. He approached slowly with his companion carrying their Starbucks coffees, in no hurry and with no awareness of the dog’s plight. Truthfully, I found it hard to maintain my composure as I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes, but I wasn’t the one who needed to be embarrassed. He needed to know that someone cared about the soul in his car. He needed to feel shame that a mother and daughter were standing by his sedan, looking after his dog, even though he had not. He needed to know that I had called the police. Though he left in a hurry reassuring me over and over again that his dog was fine, I do hope he’ll think twice about taking the dog along for the ride again on a summer day.
I’d love to hear from some of you have intervened for an animal in a hot car. How did you handle it? Were you successful? Any helpful tips to share?
Related Stories:
Under Gunfire, Rescuers Save Dog from Backyard of Evil
Deformed Pups Left to Die In Grass, Along Comes a Hero
15-Year-Old Dog “Dumped” On Ultimate Doorstep
Read more: dogs in hot cars, harmony-fund, My Dog is Cool, RedRover
Photo credit: Dustine | Dreamstime.com
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
Recent Comments from Causes
Horrible.
One that is not tainted with our own personal wants and desires, but instead one that is shone with compassion…
Go Jayden! What the hell is wrong with those people. I wish I could see the look on their faces when…
848 comments
+ add your ownSeems you feel the need to "have the last word", Kellyanne, so feel free, but it's a personal opinion as to whether "vehemently" is negative or harsh or not. I feel it is and was not justified. I'm also not offended by any means.......why should I be offended, except when I'm criticized for disagreeing with something or for questioning the truthfulness of a "story" that comes across as pretty far fetched? I'm as entitled to post my opinion as you, and yes, I asked about the temperature to another member, and had computed the temp you stated already, so NO, I didn't correct you at all. I said that there is a website that converts it and what it showed. Guess what, 78 degrees may be extremely hot and uncomfortable for penguins or polar bears, yet freezing to other species. I'd agree in a heartbeat that 78 deg. F. temps with windows rolled up all the way and a dog left inside for any length of time might lead up to an issue, but it all depends on many factors. If you actually read what I posted, you'd have gotten that.
Actually vehement is not that strong a word, but you seem so offended by so many of the posts that I wondered. By the way 26 C is actually 78.8 F ( and that is outside the car). Just saying since you felt the need to correct me ; )
CALL 911, IF THEY DON'T RESPOND, CALL THE SHERIFF OFFICE, THEY HAVE MORE JURISDICTION THAN CITY POLICE. IF NO ONE RESPONDS, BUST A WINDOW & SAY SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE INSIDE OF THE CAR
"Vehement" is a pretty harsh word, Kellyanne, but to answer your question (was it a question or an accusation?)...........I don't take my cats for rides except to the vet as necessary, the horses don't fit, and my one dog is very much wanting to go everytime she sees me pick up the keys, but if it's going to require leaving her in the car and it's warm outside (doesn't really get that warm where I live), she stays home, and very reluctantly. If I go grocery shopping during the evening or at night, which my preference, yes, she goes with me.
Anything else you'd like to know? I have nothing to hide, nor do I make up stuff just to be posting and telling a story.
Seriously Diane L. You are so vehement on this issue that it makes me wonder if you leave your pets in the car on hot days, We keep hearing warnings so of course people are very aware. It is hard to predict how long an animal has been in a car, so I can understand the concern
"You are not the Care2 Goddess. This is an opinion poll".............nope, I'm not, and neither are you. Yes, it's to share opinions (not a poll) and I have every much a right to post mine as you do. "It even seems a little rude and arrogant for you to call people "do gooders", except that doing good is never a "bad thing". You may not think you are coming off as condescending but you are."........read what I actually said. I didn't call you or anyone else (by name) a do-gooder. I said I've been attacked for responding to do-gooders, and that is fact..........you just did as well. You may think you're doing good when you interfere, but you may actually not be. I don't suppose you ever thought of that possibility? I think it's just as rude and arrogant insult me for having a different view of things than you do.
Yes, Rosanne, it's my RIGHT to comment. I didn't chastise you, just stated my opinion as to you being a "busybody" since by your own words, the first dog was not in any diress. I asked a question about the other dog, the one at Home Depot because you hadn't said a thing about whether it was hot or what the temperature was. You said the man was inside for only 10 minutes or so, and made a big deal out of pointing out that the wife wasn't carrying anything when they came out. That seemed to annoy you. I don't think it was any of your business if she was or wasn't, and if she'd stayed inside the vehicle with the dog, would it have made it any cooler inside? I can't help but wonder if your opinion of the dog being stressed because it "paced" was because of being over-heated or upset because it's owners were out of sight. Many dogs do that, and it's called "anxiety separation" which is why many dog owners take their dogs WITH them. BTW, I don't correct anyone, I question when what they say comes across as being very unfactual or in some cases, made up just to make a post/comment. I can't correct someone if I don't have the facts, can I? Wait, I DID correct one person about dogs sweating, as she said the dog was "drenched in sweat" and dogs cannot and DO NOT sweat.
....their pets. You are not the Care2 Goddess. This is an opinion poll and you need to stop berating others for sharing their experiences. I would rather be cautious and take preventive action, than to do nothing and allow an animal to die a slow agonizing death at the hands of its negligent owner. It even seems a little rude and arrogant for you to call people "do gooders", except that doing good is never a "bad thing". You may not think you are coming off as condescending but you are.
Diane L.
It seems to me that you want to comment, chastise, or correct everyone on this post. People are sharing stores of what they have experienced and what they have done when the problem arose. I did not touch the farmer's car or his dog and there was only one window down (the driver's). I only stood and talked to her and she did not bark once I did that. I did not sense the dog was under duress, just a little lonely. I had a nice conversation with the man when he came out, BUT the dog at Home Depot was definitely under duress, pacing back and forth from window to window. The Temp was in the mid 80's and the truck was parked on blacktop in the full sun. To add to the nonsense, my husband and I at at Longhorn's Wednesday evening. When we came out, the S-10 truck next to us had 2 windows cracked 2 inches and my husband pointed out to me that there was a little black dog in the truck, pacing back and forth to the windows. He said, "Let's call the police". Again the temp was in the 80's and the truck was in full sun. This time I didn't even see the little dog because he was black and so was the interior. My husband is very observant, Thank God. I feel I did the right thing in the first two instances and my husband did the right thing at Longhorn's. So, please don't keep blasting people for doing good deeds and caring for the Animal Kingdom when there are so many people out there who couldn't withstand the same treatment or abuse, intentional or not, as they are subjecting t
I would not hesitate to break a window and if needed I would tell the store there was an emergency about the car more like a child in the car
login to add your comment
use your care2 login
add your comment