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My dog Clovis and I love going hiking together, so we’ve spent a lot of time in the car.
But as a responsible, loving dog-owner I exercise extreme caution when he’s in there, carefully planning my itinerary to avoid unnecessary stops, and forgoing certain luxuries like stopping for meals. The inconvenience to me of not being able to leave him in the car is still less than the dissatisfaction that we’d both feel if I always just left him at home. After all, I didn’t get a dog so he could just sit at home waiting for me, I got him so he could share in my life.
So I’ve learned to adapt to having my dog in the car, and I’ve put together the answers to the most important questions that everyone should know about dogs and parked cars on warm days.
Unfortunately, because cars can heat up so fast, it doesn’t need to be very hot outside to be too hot for your dog. The American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA) has this handy chart that shows how hot cars can get depending on the temperature outside. Really, if it’s at all warm and sunny, then dogs shouldn’t be left in cars.
If it’s really windy, and you leave the windows fully open (in which case your dog will probably escape), then it probably could help keep the car cool. Unfortunately, for obvious reasons, most dog owners don’t leave their windows fully open, and leaving them cracked doesn’t move enough air around to make a difference. So even with the windows cracked, if it’s at all warm and sunny, don’t leave dogs in cars.
Again, depending on the situation, parking in the shade could potentially make it safe for your dog to be in the car. Unfortunately, shade moves, and on warm days, even cars parked in the shade can get dangerously hot for your dog. He’ll thank you for not doing it.
Are you sure it’s only going to be five minutes? Maybe you can’t find what you’re looking for, or maybe the checkout line is longer than you expected and then your 5 minute stop becomes a 15 minute stop. But even if it is just five minutes, this is usually still too long to leave a dog in a car on a warm day. Try sitting in your car for five minutes and see how you feel; it’ll be much worse for your dog since he’s covered in fur and can’t sweat other than through his feet.
If the dog looks to be at all in distress you should call the police. Nearly every city and state has different laws for how to deal with dogs in hot cars so while you might think you’re saving a dog, the dog’s owner might just think that you’re liable for a smashed window. While you’re waiting for the police to show up, go into the store and ask a manager to try to page the dog’s owner over the PA system. Stay with the dog until the authorities arrive or until the owner returns. You should only try to rescue yourself as a last resort, if it looks like it’s in imminent danger.
There are lots of safe ways to stop while your dog is in the car. If you’re not driving alone, then have the other person run inside while you stay with your dog to keep him safe. If you’re alone, stop somewhere with a drive-thru window so that you can remain in your car with your dog. Alternately more and more restaurants and bars offer patio where they allow well-behaved dogs to hang out with their owners so that they don’t have to be left in the car.
Your dog always loves going along for the ride, and so you shouldn’t have to just leave him at home. With these tips for keeping him safe, you’ll be able to enjoy many great adventures together. Happy Travels!
William Loopesko is an active dog owner who loves going hiking with his dog Clovis. Out of a concern for Clovis’ safety when they’re together in the car, William was inspired to start Go Pawsible and make is possible to leave a dog in a parked car without worrying about its safety. Go Pawsible is working hard to create the world’s first ever product specifically designed to keep dogs cool when they’re left in cars so that they are able to spend more times with their owners. The product will feature a rechargeable-battery powered cooling system that will keep dogs cool regardless of the outside temperature, and will be connected to smartphone app so that the owner can monitor the dog and make sure he’s safe. To learn more about Go Pawsible and their plans to create a world where no dog ever again has to suffer in a hot car, visit GoPawsible.com or email info@GoPawsible.com.
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