Hot Cars = Hot Dogs

Summer is here and we all know just how hot and stifling it is to sit in a car that’s been left in the heat all day. Belt buckles burning your skin, hot leather seats, or steering wheel handle, you know the feeling… ouch!

Now imagine how your dog feels.

Leaving your pet in a car 'just while you pop into the air-conditioned shops' can quickly become deadly. Dogs left in vehicles are at serious risk of heatstroke, organ failure and death - and it can happen faster than most people realise. Dogs Die in Hot Cars Fact Sheet

What do you do if you find an animal in a hot car? There are steps you can take that could potentially save a life here. 

• Cars can reach up to 73 degrees Celsius on a hot summer’s day
• Pets can still overheat even when the windows are down or the car is parked in a shaded area
• Ute trays can burn your pet’s footpads or bodies

Dogs don’t sweat. Instead, they cool themselves down through panting (evaporative cooling from the lungs and mouth), lying on cool surfaces and drinking cool water. With the combination of the extremely hot and humid weather in Queensland at the moment and cars that are made from metal and glass (both are extremely good at retaining heat), dogs that are left in hot cars are put in a life threatening situation. Panting is not a sufficient cooling method in these extreme weather conditions and there are no cool surfaces for them to cool off on. 

This January our Inspector rescued two dogs from a car at a Gold Coast theme park. They were lucky to survive being left for hours in the car. Please note, some viewers may find the following footage distressing:

Our Inspectors are frequently called out to rescue dogs left in cars. Inspector Ben Newman says, “These dogs were very lucky to survive. The car was like an oven. If not found in time, they wouldn’t be alive.” While this rescue was underway, Police also received a report of a dog left in a car at Sea World. 

Please leave your pets at home when heading to theme parks and shopping centres.

Pet owners have a legal duty of care to ensure their animals are safe and protected from harm — including heat stress.

Leaving an animal in a hot car constitute as an offence under the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001, with fines of up to $333,800 or 3-years jail time for a serious breach.

Keeping your pet safe doesn’t stop when the car starts moving.

Thousands of dogs are injured each year while travelling unsecured — particularly in ute trays. Dogs can be:

• Burnt by hot metal surfaces
• Injured by debris, wind, rain or dust
• Thrown or fall from the trayChoked or strangled by unsafe restraints

Always transport dogs securely and safely, using appropriate restraints or enclosed crates, and never expose them to extreme heat or weather.

Learn more about safe travel options for your pet.

Dogs don’t need to be locked in cages to die from heat stress. 20 minutes on a tether in the sun means pets work themselves into a panicked frenzy and very quickly overheat beyond return. Read more about tethering cases we’ve seen here. 

• Do they have access to ample shade and multiple water sources all day? 
• Put some ice cubes into their water to keep it nice and cool
• Make some cool DIY doggy treats for them to enjoy 
• Set up a doggy paddle pool at home for your pet to splash around in
• Keep small pet enclosures and fish tanks out of the direct sun
• Keep your livestock, horses and hens cool too! More here

Learn more cool tips here