Don’t risk leaving your dog in a hot car…
With Australian Summer temperatures averaging 30 degrees Celsius…vehicle interiors can easily double that!
We’ve all been for a drive and realised we need to ‘quickly duck into the shop to buy a few things’ or run an errand.
But what happens when your paw-pal is along for the ride?
Sadly, dog fatalities in hot cars are an all too common tragedy!
RSPCA NSW received almost 300 reports of animals with potential heat stress last summer, and almost 80 complaints were of pets locked in cars.
Recently in the news, a careless dog walker left a lady’s dog locked in a hot car, only to have the body found by the owner and a passer-by.
Another recent incident in NSW required Police to smash the windows of a locked car parked in an underground carpark to free a distressed and overheated dog!
These concerning incidents demonstrate how easily dogs can be affected by the heat and especially within a hot, confined space such as a vehicle!
According to Melbourne’s Metropolitan Ambulance Service, it only takes 10 MINUTES for your car to more than double from 20 degrees to 44 degrees Celsius, on a 29-degree day! Taking a further 10 minutes to reach a sweltering 60.2 degrees!!
Even with the windows down and parked in the shade, a vehicle can still be uncomfortably hot.
The RSPCA Victoria recommends that animals left on the back of utility vehicles can be just as at risk of heatstroke and must be supplied with “adequate shade, shelter and water.”
If you find an unattended or suffering dog or animal in a vehicle on a hot day it should be reported to Victoria Police on 000 immediately (other state legislation may vary).
What should you do? :
- If your dog is supervised by a passenger in the vehicle ensure that the air-conditioning is running and that the dog has access to water.
- Depending on the destination, take your dog with you so you can monitor it and ensure it is hydrated and cool.
- If you can’t supervise your dog, it is much safer to leave it at home where it has access to shade and water. A quick trip to the shops with your paw-pal in the car isn’t worth risking its health!
- Cool your dog down with water from a hose or putting it in a bath or container of cool but not cold water. Give it access to plenty of drinking water and keep it in the shade or in an air-conditioned environment.
- If you suspect your dog has heatstroke seek immediate Veterinary attention!
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