Hot Cars And Loose Pets:
Summary:
Brutus, Duke, Coco, Lola and Jake... they're fairly common pet names, and they're also the names of just a few of the pets who have died because they were left in cars on warm (and not necessarily hot) days while their owners were shopping, visiting friends or family, or running errands. What's so tragic is that these beloved pets were simply the victims of bad judgment.
No, it's not the name of the latest tell-all tabloid bestseller. We're talking about seriously risky situations that happen every day, but are entirely preventable.
Brutus, Duke, Coco, Lola and Jake... they're fairly common pet names, and they're also the names of just a few of the pets who have died because they were left in cars on warm (and not necessarily hot) days while their owners were shopping, visiting friends or family, or running errands. What's so tragic is that these beloved pets were simply the victims of bad judgment.
Want numbers? An independent study showed that the interior temperature of vehicles parked in outside temperatures ranging from 72 to 96° F rose steadily as time increased. And cracking the windows doesn't help.
Elapsed time
10 minutes
20 minutes
30 minutes
60 minutes
1 to 2 hoursTemperature rise inside vehicle
19°F
29°F
34°F
43°F
45-50°F
Add to that the fact that most pets are not properly restrained while in the car, and you've got some dangerous situations – for people and pets alike. Unrestrained pets can be seriously or fatally injured, or could even hurt you, in a collision or sudden braking situation. They're also a distraction for the driver. According to a 2010 American Automobile Association (AAA) survey, two out of three owners engage in distracting behaviors (playing with, feeding or petting their dog, or letting the dog sit in their lap) when pets are in the car. And according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 20% of injury crashes involve distracted driving.
Please don't become another statistic. Only take your pets in the vehicle with you when you absolutely need to, and always properly restrain your pets while in the vehicle.
How can you help prevent these injuries and deaths?
- Learn more about keeping your pet safe during travel.
- Leave your pet(s) at home except when you need to have them in the vehicle.
- Always properly restrain your own pet(s) while in a vehicle.
- Educate clients, family and friends about these issues and how they can keep their pet(s) safe.
The American Veterinary Medical Association, founded in 1863, is a not-for-profit association representing more than 99,500 veterinarians in the US. Read more of our articles in our animal health and welfare area.
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