Why You Should Never Leave a Pet in your Car
August 12th, 2015 by Eli P
“I was only going to be gone a few minutes.”
“I didn’t think it was that hot.”
“I left the windows cracked.”
These are some of the most common, and tragic, reasons that pets die inside locked cars. Nobody does it on purpose. But unfortunately it happens all too often, usually because people are in a hurry or because they don’t understand the risks involved. Here’s why you should never leave your pet unattended in a car – for any length of time.
For starters, cars can get hot very quickly. Studies have shown that the temperature inside a car can rise as much as 40 degrees in only an hour, even on a relatively cool day. Moreover, most of the increase occurs within the first 30 minutes of leaving the car closed.
And don’t assume your pet sits quietly waiting for you to return. Many pets, especially dogs, are very active in a locked car. This activity can further increase their body temperature, adding to the already hot conditions inside the car.
Turning Your Car Into a Sauna
Cars can get a lot hotter than you think. On a hot day, temperatures can easily climb to 120 degrees in a very short time. That’s like leaving your pet in a sauna with no way to control their body heat and no way to get out.
Arizona Cardinals safety, Tyrann Mathieu, took part in a video to show just how quickly temperatures can rise inside a car, the results were shocking. It took just over 8 minutes for him to be completely drenched in sweat, call it quits and exit the vehicle.
To make matters worse, cracking a window doesn’t prevent the car from overheating. Studies have shown that cars with slightly open windows reach the same temperatures as when the windows are completely closed.
Parking your car in the shade doesn’t help, as temperatures can still climb very high inside the car, increasing the risk of heatstroke for your pet.
Why Risk It?
The health of your pet can also make a difference. Very young or old pets, those with thick coats, and pets that are overweight are all more prone to heatstroke.
Even running the air conditioning while you’re gone isn’t a good idea. The air conditioner could malfunction or break. Plus, it runs the risk of building up noxious fumes in the car that could overwhelm your pet.
In addition to protecting your pet, many states have laws against leaving pets inside locked cars. So why risk it? Be smart and leave your pet at home. Both you and your pet will be much happier!
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