It's too hot for dogs in cars

The dog days of summer are approaching and when the mercury rises, your furry friends are at risk for heatstroke or death when their pet parents leave them in a parked car.

Every year across the nation, thousands of pets fall victim to or die from weather-related conditions due to ignorance or poor judgment by a pet parent.

Lieutenant Bryan Husband from the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office has had officers dispatched many times from people who have called in because they noticed a dog left in a parked car when it was too hot outside.

"Just last week we had a call about a dog left in a motor vehicle at the Fred Meyer parking lot," Husband said. "People make poor judgment calls, thinking they will be back in five minutes and it turns into 20. Seventy degrees outside is too hot to leave your dog in the car. In a matter of minutes the temperature inside your car can jump to over 100 degrees, even with the windows cracked. Leave your pet at home."

Animals can sustain brain damage or even die in as little as 15 minutes in an overheated environment.

Staying cool is tough for dogs because they can only reduce their internal temperature by panting and sweating through their paw pads.

Dr. Dana Bailey, DVM, associate at Broken Top Veterinary Clinic makes it clear that dogs don't belong in parked cars.

"Leave your dog at home or if that's not possible, leave him with a friend or board him. In other words, be safe, this is something that can be easily avoided; it's a tragedy that doesn't have to happen. If you did leave your pet in a car and you see signs like excessive panting, glazed eyes, drooling and red gums, remove him from the hot car, immediately, the sooner you can get your pet cooled down, the better. Hose him down and turn on a fan if you have one. Remember to call your veterinarian right away," advised Bailey.

Do not take pets with you to run errands. Fido may enjoy a fun car ride, but leaving him in the car while you go into the store for even 10 minutes on a hot day could turn deadly.

The best hope for eliminating this tragic occurrence is to educate friends, family, and anyone you come in contact with about leaving dogs in hot cars.

Many states and local governments have laws that prohibit leaving an animal unattended in a motor vehicle under dangerous conditions, which include hot days. Under these laws, police, animal control officers and others may be authorized to remove the animal. You could have your car damaged or be charged with a crime.

According to the Oregon Humane Society, Oregon Animal Cruelty Laws Handbook, under Offenses Against Animals, 167.323, it is considered an offense if you do not provide air temperature suitable for an animal.

"If you see an animal in a parked car and believe that it is a dangerous situation, call the sheriff's non-emergency number 541-693-6911," Husband said. "The officers will take appropriate action and get the dog to safety."