Pets in Hot Cars Don't Mix

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Being left alone for only 10 minutes may not seem like a long time but when you’re a helpless, dependant pet, left in a car on a warm summer day; it just may be the last 10 minutes of life. Believe it or not, Livermore Animal Control still responds to at least five calls a week for animals being left in vehicles in hot weather. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg, our city’s local veterinarians see many more animals for heat-related exposure.

On a 78 degree day outside, the temperature inside a parked vehicle can soar to anywhere between 100 to 120 degrees in just minutes.  Worse, on a 90 degree day outside, the interior temperature of a parked vehicle can reach as high as 160 degrees in less than 10 minutes. Animals can suffer brain damage or death from heatstroke in just 15 minutes. Dogs can only cool themselves by panting and sweating through their paw pads. A dog’s body temperature is always hotter than the air surrounding the animal. So if you put your dog in the car, not only will the sun heat up the car, but so will your dog’s panting.

The Livermore Police Department has responded to several calls to a particular retail parking lot for animals that are left in hot cars. As a preventative and educational measure, we put our electronic message board near the store with this message, “Dogs in hot cars don’t mix.”

This month, Livermore Police responded to a call where a dog owner left her dog locked in a hot car while she was in a local business. The dog was left in the car for approximately 30 minutes. Although it was only 11 a.m., the outside temperature had already reached 95 degrees. Livermore Animal Control (AC) rescued the dog and took it to a local vet who stated that if AC hadn’t removed the dog, it would have surely suffered from heat stroke or death. Identifying the severity of the owner’s irresponsibility, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office charged the pet owner with animal cruelty, which is punishable by up to 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.

To help prevent injury to your pet, here are some tips from our local veterinarians:

1. Even on cooler days, don’t put your pet in the car if you are going to leave it unattended for any period of time. 
2. At home, always have ample shade and plenty of fresh water for your pet. 
3. Do not exercise animals on warm or hot days.
4. Seek medical care immediately if you suspect your pet has experienced heat injury.

If you see an animal in distress, please call your local police department. You just may save that animal’s life.