| Publication: The Frederick News-Post; |
Date: May 31, 2009; |
Section: Pets; |
Page: C-6 |
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PETS AND PEOPLE
SUMMER & HOT CARS
By DIDI CLEMENT
Special to the News-Post
Everyone knows not to leave dogs unattended in the summer in
a car, right? You would think that news items that feature the tragic outcome of
these oversights would finally have reached us all. But, every year there are a
few more stories of children and dogs (or cats) lost tragically in cars that
become too hot to be safe. Anytime the temperature is nearing 70 degrees or
anything above 70 there is a risk that the inside of a car will increase to 100
degrees in less than 15 minutes. So what people often decide to do is: park in
the shade be gone less than 15 minutes keep windows or sunroof open put a bowl
of water in the car leave the car running with the AC on Why won’t these actions
protect your dog? Well some of the reasons are obvious. Shade moves. You never know how long the line at the cash register
will be or if you’ll run into someone you know and stop to chat. Fifteen minutes
is barely long enough to walk from the parking lot into the store and back.
Open windows
and sun roofs can reduce the temperature inside a car but only if the air
outside of the car is cool enough. Open windows unfortunately allow pets to
escape and passers-by to reach into the car and get bitten. You may feel that no
one should reach into your car but if your car is in a public place and your dog
is in distress, the good Samaritan has a good case.
Any water you place inside a hot car will also
be hot. Therefore, it will not cool the pet at all. Stressed animals rarely want
to eat and drink, anyway.
Leaving the car
running is dangerous and illegal. Often the engine will overheat, which will add
to the problems at hand.
So what does the law
say? Even if your dog or cat is not harmed, you can still be cited for leaving
the car engine running, even if the car is locked. (This does not include police
cars that are specially outfitted with independent AC and alarm for temperature
limits.) Sure, your dog may be protecting the car, but he can’t really testify
in court, so that’s not going to help you. It is not illegal to leave your dog
in your car. He’s not a kid and doesn’t need a parent nearby when he’s under 12.
But, it is illegal to leave your dog or cat unattended in a car if the manner
endangers the health and safety or the animal. That’s for the entire state. The
charge for doing so is not a simple traffic
violation, either. It’s cruelty to animals.
So
do your dog a favor and avoid tragedy for your family. Keep your dog (and kids,
and cats and fish) out of the car this summer unless they are with you on their
way to somewhere fun. No stopping except for traffic and the drive-thru.