With the official start of summer just around the corner, it is important to keep an extra close watch on our companion animals in hot weather. Not only should we make sure our beloved furry friends always have access to fresh cool drinking water and indoor shelter from the heat, we must also remember to never leave them alone in a car, even for just a few minutes.

According to a petition on Care2 written by ASPCA, thousands of animals succumb to heatstroke and suffocation each year because they are left alone in vehicles. As the petition explains, even with the windows cracked, the temperature inside a car can rise from 80 degrees to 112 degrees in less than thirty minutes. This means even a quick errand can turn deadly for an unattended animal.

As the petition states, leaving an animal alone in a car is dangerous and a form of animal cruelty and ASPCA is calling on all of us to help put a stop to it. If you happen to see an unattended animal in a vehicle this summer, please try to locate their guardian and if they cannot be found, please call 911. There have been kind samaritans who have gotten in legal trouble for breaking car windows to rescue animals trapped in the heat, so please be aware of this. After calling the authorities, wait by the car until help arrives.

There is no reason for animals to suffer and die this way. Many dogs love going for a car ride with the wind blowing in their face, but if the excursion requires a stop, please make sure animals are permitted there. If not, please take your faithful friend back home safely away from the heat of a car.

Please remember to share this with your network as an important reminder for the summer!

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