It is never safe to leave a pet in the car, even if you go for a quick run to the store. Unless you are planning to take the dog somewhere such as the park, the vet, the groomer, or to a friend’s home, or if you are planning to take the dog for a drive, the best thing to do is to leave the dog at home. There is never a reason for the dog to be in the car unless it is for those reasons just mentioned. It is a lot more dangerous to leave the dog in the car when the temperatures are hot!
What Can Happen If You Leave Your Dog In The Car When The Temperatures Are High?
You have to remember something. As hot as it is outside, the temperature inside the car is even hotter without the air conditioning on. If you leave your pet inside of a hot car when the weather is scorching, that can be quite deadly as it at the very least can cause organ damage that is irreparable. How could you imagine that happening to your dog? That is something that you can easily prevent from happening. Now that you know to never leave your dog in the car, what about a situation where you see someone in the parking lot leaving their dog in the hot car? You could not leave the dog in that car knowing it is there. So what can you do about that?
What To Do When You See A Dog Trapped In A Hot Car
It may be tempting to take a baseball bat and smash in the window of the car to let the dog out. But before you do that, you will want to note the license plate number, the car’s make, and the model. Then go to the store nearby and let the managers know about the dog in the trapped car so they can make an announcement over the PA so the owner can get to the car. However, if the owner is not anywhere to be found, then call the animal control or the non-emergency police number and find out what you can legally do. It may actually be legal to smash in the window of the car in situations like that, but you have to find that out first before making that move yourself. You do not want to be charged for causing damage to someone else’s property for the purpose of being a good Samaritan.
What Are Other Ways You Can Help?
When you don’t come across this situation but know it happens, then you will want to know the rules and regulations of your city when it comes to rescuing dogs from trapped hot cars. That is illegal in most places, and what you also need to do is have the number on hand for help even before going anywhere. This way, if you happen to encounter a dog in a trapped car somewhere, you can immediately call for help instead of wasting any time looking for the number to call. You will also want to help spread awareness about how often this preventable situation happens. You can also ask businesses around to post signs telling customers that you should never keep your dog in the car.
Most pet owners don’t mean to harm their pets but don’t always have the awareness of how dangerous it is to leave their dogs in the trapped car. That is why so many owners who have been caught leaving their dog in a trapped car feel horrified and guilty, and will never do it again. Awareness is the key.
