Dog Saves Own Life By Honking Car Horn

A chocolate lab left alone inside a hot car on a July day repeatedly honked the car horn to let his owner know that he needed help to get out of the sweltering heat.

He had been left in the car for about an hour. The first time the dog owner heard the car horn sound she went outside and didn’t see anyone, so she went back inside. More honking got her outside again where she saw her dog sitting in the driver’s seat of her car.

Animal hospital worker Nancy Soares said of the incident, “Number 1… Max saved his own life by honking the horn to get himself out of a very, very overheated car. Number 2, the Gardners are such good pet owners that they looked at him first. They managed to get his temperature down a little bit before they got here.”

Cars are basically solar collectors and reach high temperatures quickly. Even if windows are left cracked, they can become very hot.

The Humane Society has cautioned when traveling with animals by car, “during warm weather, the inside of your car can reach 120 degrees in a matter of minutes, even if you’re parked in the shade. ”

Cats and dogs can’t perspire like humans can, and perspiration is the human cooling system. Leaving an animal in a hot car for even several minutes can cause exhaustion, brain damage and even death. Some people like to take their pets in the car while doing errands, but on a warm day it is better to leave them at home to avoid the risk of forgetting about them, and leaving them to suffer in an overheated car.

Image Credit: theBlackBrian

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Dale O.

8:24AM PDT on Jul 31, 2012

Good survival thinking on the part of the dog. How many times do people have to be told not to leave pets in a car during the hot months of summer! Or their kids which has also happened and some have also died as a result. It is an oven in there!

July 31
send a green star

Abbe A.

11:30AM PDT on Jul 18, 2012

smart pup

July 18
send a green star

Sue H.

8:40AM PDT on Jul 9, 2012

Smart dog - dumb owners, give them a huge fine!!!

July 9
send a green star

Chris C.

10:19AM PDT on Jul 8, 2012

Obviously this dog is superior to his owners in brain power. How stupid to leave a dog or cat in a car! I would just never do it - regardless of the temperature outside. NEVER!

July 8
send a green star

Winn A.

4:11PM PDT on Jul 6, 2012

This dog is MUCH smarter than his owners. Maybe it's time to get him a home where he won't have to save his own life.

July 6
send a green star

Marie W.

7:53PM PDT on Jul 5, 2012

How did dog get in car?? Bad owners.

July 5
send a green star

Juliet D.

9:50AM PDT on Jul 5, 2012

Here in VA there is a law against leaving pets in the car. This can be kind of annoying when you just want to run in to the post office or somewhere for a couple of minutes, but I'm glad the law exists.

I would not hesitate to break a car window if the pet's owner were not around. I'd probably end up paying for the window because I didn't call the police and wait, but that would be cheaper than the mental anguish I'd suffer for the rest of my life if i didn't act quickly enough and the animal died.

Danuta W.

1:09AM PDT on Jun 29, 2012

Thanks for sharing.

June 29
send a green star

Pat W.

8:42PM PDT on Jun 28, 2012

good dog
irresponsible owners

June 28
send a green star

Debra G.

2:10PM PDT on Jun 28, 2012

Ok fest off, a good pet owner ( pet parent) wouldn't ever leave their baby in a car alone for ANY amount of time!!!! This poor baby should absolutely be taken away from them