It’s started getting warmer in almost “searing” hot. Most people know that you can’t leave a pet in a hot car. It’s just not safe for them. Temperatures can shoot up in minutes, putting your dog at risk of heatstroke. The inside of a vehicle parked in 70-degree weather can reach over 100 degrees in just 20 minutes. And, contrary to popular belief, leaving the windows cracked doesn’t make it safe. A parked car with the windows cracked heats up at almost precisely the same rate as a car with the windows all rolled up. In most cities, it’s illegal to leave your pet inside a vehicle unattended for more than five minutes if the ambient outside temperature is 80 degrees or more.
What should you do if you see an animal inside a parked car like this on a hot day? First, if they appear to be in some distress, call 911, and assistance will come out and help. Then, while you’re waiting on us to get there, you might try to locate the owner (maybe have them paged inside the business).