I worry about dogs. Let me clarify. I worry about all of the dogs in the world, pretty much most of the time. (Time consuming you might ask? You bet. This tendency of mine is what led me to start my business.*) So, when summer finally arrives in Seattle, I specifically start worrying about people leaving their dogs in their hot cars while they shop in air-conditioned stores. I know, this is a problem somewhere in the world most of the time, but as temperatures rise here, this worry also rises to the top of my queue.
Sadly, it seems inevitable that at some point during the summer months you will stumble upon a heartbreaking story of one dog’s death caused by one person’s ignorance. So I was very happy to read a story over the weekend about a “forgotten” dog who saved his own life.
Donna Gardner, from Allentown, Pennsylvania, took her 11-year-old chocolate Lab with her while she ran some errands. Upon returning home, she somehow managed to unload her packages, but neglected to “unload” Max. Maybe he was asleep? Maybe he’s the same color as the upholstery?? Ok, I’m not going to judge…
About an hour later, Gardner began to hear a car horn honking. Her car horn, in fact. When she looked out her window, she saw Max sitting behind the wheel. Whether he knew what he was doing or not, thank goodness he somehow managed to sound the horn and attract her attention, as it happened to be 90 degrees in Allentown that day. Gardner cooled Max down with cold rags and rushed him to the vet. Fortunately, he was weak, but fine.
At 85 degrees, the temperature inside a car, even with the windows open, can become 102 degrees in just ten minutes, and can reach 120 degrees in just half an hour! While a dog’s normal body temperature is slightly higher than ours – 101 to 102.5 degrees, they can withstand a body temperature of 107 to 108 degrees for only a short time before suffering brain damage or dying.
If you find a dog in a parked car, who is exhibiting signs of heat exhaustion (heavy panting, gasping for air, weakness, unconsciousness) alert the store manager. Hopefully an announcement over the public address system will bring the owner back to their car and back to their senses. If the owner can’t be found, call the police. If you’re not willing to call the police, staying by the car and observing the pet inside until the owner returns is another option. But remember, the owner might not be the animal advocate that you are.
United Animal Nations (UAN) has a fantastic website mydogiscool.com where you can download posters to distribute to your local stores as well as handouts and fliers that you can keep in your own glove compartment, should you ever need to educate the public. If we got managers across the country to place the poster above in store entrances, maybe we can educate a few people and save a few dogs from a horrible fate.
* Tiny Growl gives one dollar from the sale of every ScooPup Pocket sold (the world’s best dog poop pick up and carry bag) to animal welfare charities that are making a positive difference.
Cats too please!
My friend Debbie, who once managed a shopping center, tells me that they always called the Fire Department when alerted of a pet or a child in a parked car, and that they always arrived without delay.
This same friend of mine, with whom I stayed in Phoenix on a cross country drive from PA to CA with my cats, actually drove ahead of me on a 100+ degree day to the border between AZ & CA so that I could hop out for a pit stop while she sat in my car with the A/C running. Debbie then turned around and drove another two hours back home.
Fortunately, I was able to make it to Los Angeles without having to stop again, which I actually would have forced myself to do regardless of any discomfort.
Our friends are our family and so are our pets. We all need to take care of each other, every day.
Cats too, naturally and did I have to mention children?
Great reminder. Of course we had some people here that managed to do that with the 8 month old child. Apparently forgot they had the child with them. Luckily the child was ok. Stopped this weekend for 1 errand after picking my “kids” up at day care. I went inside long enough to get extra water for them and then waited with them for my friend to come back. I can’t image just walking off and leaving them.
Honestly, I just can’t understand how some people manage to do the things that they do.
I’ll judge a little.
Anyone over the age of 13 should know this stuff… if not by specific statistics, then by anecdotal evidence.
I love both dogs and cats, and very specifically because of this, I own neither. My lifestyle would not be fair to them.
Trapping a pet in a car on an even moderately warm day because it suits your human needs is beyond inconsiderate.
I’ve also been “the child” left in the car, with specific instructions to leave the windows rolled up. Being a mostly obedient kid, I did just that (once) when outside temps were above 100F. Obviously, I survived, but I know firsthand what pet owners are doing to their so-called “loved ones” when they leave them in the car.
A hint: They’re not “loving” them.
Great article and thanks for joining my “Pet Blogs” group on Blogcatalog!
Your site looks great 🙂