Leaving your dog in a hot car can be fatal

Thinking about bringing your dog with you while running errands this summer? Think again. Leaving your dog in a car for any amount of time can be incredibly harmful or even fatal to your furry friend. Make sure your destination allows pets before going, or leave them at home.

Temperatures in a closed car can rise 19 degrees in less than 10 minutes and 43 degrees in an hour, and can quickly reach 120 degrees or more. Parking in the shade with the windows down, even in milder temperatures, can still be deadly for animals trapped inside a vehicle. 

Dogs regulate their body temperature differently than humans. They cool themselves by panting, which is meant to replace warm air in their bodies with cooler air. Panting in a hot car is like doing so in an oven, where it not only doesn’t cool them but instead heats them up more quickly. 

Dogs left alone in a car can rapidly dehydrate and develop life-threatening heat stroke within minutes.

Do not leave any animal in a hot car. Residents who come across a pet in a hot car should not hesitate to call Mesa County Animal Services at 970-242-4646. Even if the dog appears well, it can deteriorate quickly, so take action immediately.