DEAR PAW’S CORNER: Spring is here, and summer is just around the corner. Can you please remind people that leaving pets in a hot car is a deadly mistake? -- Carol in Syracuse, New York DEAR CAROL: Absolutely. Folks, even if the weather outside is just warm -- not hot -- the inside of your car can become extremely hot when it’s parked in the sun. Even with the windows cracked a bit, the temperature can still rise by 20, 30 and 40 degrees higher than the outside air temperature. So, if it’s a balmy 65 degrees outside, the interior of your car can reach 105 degrees or higher -- enough to cause heat injury or death for a pet.
That’s why 31 U.S. states now have laws banning pets in parked cars. It’s why police and even private citizens, in some areas, can smash a car window to save a pet. And it’s why pet owners who leave their animal in a parked car may face fines and, in some states, prison. Those laws do not make exceptions for cars that are left running to keep the air conditioning on. If the car stalls or has an automatic switch-off, the interior will heat up dramatically even on a cloudy day.
So, as we roll into the warm spring months, it’s important to have a plan for your pet if you need to take them along for the day. If they can’t come with you into the store or the salon, leave them safe at home.
