Never leave animals or children in parked vehicles

Dear Editor:
At least five animals have died already this year due to heat-related reasons—and these are just the deaths that have been reported. Most aren’t. Please don’t let your animal companions become statistics—take these precautions to protect them.

Never leave animals or children in parked vehicles. On a 75-degree day, the temperature inside a parked car can soar to 104 degrees in 20 minutes, and on a 90-degree day, it can reach 119 degrees in the same amount of time. Parking in the shade, leaving the windows partially open, and/or leaving water in the vehicle will not keep vehicles cool enough to be safe.

In warm weather, never make dogs run with you—they will collapse before giving up, and by then it may be too late to save them. Walk dogs early in the morning or late at night when it’s cooler, and test the pavement with your hand to ensure it won’t burn their footpads.
Never leave animals outdoors unattended. If there are chained or penned dogs in your neighborhood, ensure that they have water (in a tip-proof container), shade, food, and shelter. If they lack these necessities, give them water and notify authorities immediately.
Visit www.PETA.org for more tips on keeping animals cool and safe this spring.

Sincerely,

Lindsay Pollard-Post
The PETA Foundation