Leaving a Dog in the Car: The Effects of High and Low Temperatures
If your dog is anything like the majority of dogs, he will undoubtedly enjoy automobile rides – the breeze in his face, the sun on his fur, the odours of new places.
You enjoy spoiling your dog whenever possible, but bringing him along with you almost always means leaving him alone in the car for at least a few minutes each time.
Is it ever a good idea to leave your dog in the car? On a hot summer day, what are your options when you come across a puppy that has been left in a car? Here’s all you need to know about keeping your dog safe.
How quickly does it become too hot or too cold for a dog to be outside?
According to a study published in the journal Pediatrics, the temperature inside your automobile can swiftly rise to above 115 degrees Fahrenheit on a mild day with temperatures around 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
The majority of this heat rise occurs within 30 minutes. Even when their body temperature reaches 103 degrees, dogs can suffer from heat exhaustion, which is dangerous.
It makes little difference whether you open your windows or park in the shade. The difficulty is that automobiles are excellent heat conductors.
When driving in the shade or with the windows down, automobiles conduct and amplify external temperatures; therefore, it is not necessary for it to be extremely hot outside for the inside of your vehicle to become excruciatingly hot inside.
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, keeping your dog in a frigid car can be just as harmful as putting him in a heated car, if not more in certain situations.
When the heater isn’t working, freezing conditions can effectively transform your automobile into a refrigerator, which can lead to hypothermia in your canine companion.
Do you ever feel comfortable leaving your dog in the car?
Generally speaking, it is okay to leave your dog in the car for a maximum of five minutes, as long as the outside temperature is above freezing and below 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Here are some other suggestions for safely leaving your dog in the car:
- If you’re driving during daylight hours, open a window and park in a shady area.
- Don’t be distracted from your main goal! If you become sidetracked from your goal of returning to your car as soon as possible, a five-minute errand can quickly become a deadly situation for your dog.
- In the event that you have a passenger in the car with you, ask them to remain in the vehicle with your dog and to keep the heat or air conditioner on.
Leaving your dog in the car is not the only option
You can always inquire with the establishment you’re going about whether or not you’re permitted to bring your dog along with you while you’re out shopping or eating.
The number of establishments that are willing to allow dogs inside, as long as they’re on a leash or contained in a carrier, may surprise you.
In accordance with health rules, not all establishments are legally allowed to do this; nonetheless, asking does not harm.
A few businesses are even installing temperature-controlled dog cages in front of their establishments.
In this case, you can pay to have your dog boarded and safely secured while you go shopping for your groceries. When you’re finished, you can let your dog out, pay, and then proceed on your journey.
In the event that you’re travelling with someone else, they may leave your dog — provided that he’s on a leash — with them in a shady location outside the car while you go inside and finish what you need to finish.
The safest choice, though, is to leave your dog at home (or at a boarding kennel) on warm or chilly days, especially if you’ll be stopping at locations where he isn’t permitted to enter (such as restaurants).
Tips on What to Do If You Find a Dog Left in a Car
If you come across a dog that has been left in a car in potentially dangerous conditions — keep in mind that an outside temperature of just 70 degrees is hot enough to make the inside of a car unsafe — your first step should be to locate the owner of the automobile who has left the dog.
Make a note of the car’s make, model, and license plate number, and ask someone within the establishment for assistance in locating the owner.
It is recommended that you contact the authorities if they cannot be located or if they continue to ignore the dog. As a result, several states have laws prohibiting people from leaving their dogs in parked cars, and the dog parent may be subject to fines or other legal punishments.
Keep in mind that breaking into a locked automobile to rescue a dog should only be considered as a last resort. Despite the fact that it is allowed in some places, it is typically recommended that you leave such action to the authorities because it can be dangerous to you and your pet.
Maintaining Your Dog’s Safety as a Priority
Even though it can be entertaining to accompany your pup on errands, his safety must always come first. While leaving your dog in the car under some circumstances may be OK, it is generally recommended that you leave your fluffy companion at home while travelling to a location where he is not permitted.
Fact-Finding:
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