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Harley McGuire Says Give a Care When It’s Hot Out There

Harley McGuire, SedonaEye.com star pet columnist talks Sedona road tripping

Harley McGuire, SedonaEye.com star pet columnist talks give a care when it’s hot out there!

Sedona AZ (August 4, 2013)With the summer months upon us, pet travel is at it’s height and it’s time for a reminder about the dangers of leaving your pet in a parked car. Whether you’re parking in the shade, just running into the store, or leaving the windows cracked, it is still NOT ok to leave your pet in a parked car reminds SedonaEye.com Star Four Paws Up Pet Columnist Harley McGuire.

The temperature inside a car can skyrocket after just a few minutes. Parking in the shade or leaving the windows cracked does very little to alleviate this pressure cooker.

On a warm, sunny day, YOU try turning your car off, cracking your windows and sitting there. It will only be a few short minutes before it becomes unbearable. Imagine how your helpless pet will feel. On an 85-degree day, for example, the temperature inside a car with the windows cracked can reach 102 degrees within only ten minutes. After 30 minutes, the temperature will reach 120 degrees. At 110 degrees, pets are in danger of heatstroke.

On hot and humid days, the temperature in a car parked in direct sunlight can rise more than 30 degrees per minute, and quickly become lethal! Got it yet?

Stanford University School of Medicine conducted a study to measure the temperature rise inside a parked car on sunny days with highs ranging from 72 to 96 degrees F. The results showed that a car’s interior can heat up by an average of 40 degrees F within an hour, regardless of ambient temperature. Ambient temperature doesn’t matter – it’s whether it’s sunny out. Eighty percent of the temperature rise occurred within the first half-hour. Even on a relatively cool day, the temperature inside a parked car can quickly spike to life-threatening levels if the sun is out.

Furthermore researchers noted that much like the sun warms a greenhouse in winter; it also warms a parked car on cool days. In both cases, the sun heats up a mass of air trapped under glass. Precautions such as cracking a window or running the air conditioner prior to parking the car were found to be inadequate.

Heed Harley McGuire's wise words.

Harley McGuire says keep your promises.

“If more people knew the danger of leaving their pets in their parked car, they wouldn’t do it,” states Kim Salerno of  the Trips With Pets website. “Pets are very susceptible to overheating as they are much less efficient at cooling themselves than people are.”

The solution is simple – leave your pets at home if the place you are going does not allow pets.

Dogs are designed to conserve heat. Their sweat glands, which exist on their nose and the pads of their feet, are inadequate for cooling during hot days. Panting and drinking water helps cool them, but if they only have hot air to breathe, dogs can suffer brain and organ damage after just 15 minutes. Short-nosed breeds, young pets, seniors or pets with weight, respiratory, cardiovascular or other health problems are especially susceptible to heat-related stress.

Signs of heat stress include heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid pulse, unsteadiness, a staggering gait, vomiting or a deep red or purple tongue. If one of my pals becomes overheated, immediately lowering their body temperature is a must!

  • Move the pet into the shade and apply cool (not cold) water all over their body to gradually lower their temperature.
  • Apply ice packs or cool towels to the pet’s head, neck and chest only.
  • Allow the pet to drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes.
  • Then take the pet to the nearest vet.

harley mcguire compassionDid you know this? Animal Services Officers or other law enforcement officers are authorized to remove any animal left in an unattended vehicle that is exhibiting signs of heat stress by using the amount of force necessary to remove the animal, and shall not be liable for any damages reasonably related to the removal. The pet owner may be charged with animal cruelty.

Creating greater awareness is the key to preventing my pals from unnecessary suffering. A good start is to let all your friends know about the dangers of leaving my pals in a parked car. Tell them to keep their pets at home on warm sunny days if they’ll be going anywhere pets are not allowed.

Mom says it’s common sense to her! How about using your common sense, too!

The Humane Society of the United States has posters available for a nominal fee that store managers can post inside their windows to remind shoppers that “Leaving Your Pet in a Parked Car Can Be a Deadly Mistake.” They also have similar hot car flyers.

Now get out there and be involved. If you see one of my pals in a parked car during a warm sunny day, go to the nearest store and have the owner paged. Call the Sheriff’s office, local police or animal control office!

GIVE A CARE WHEN IT’S HOT OUT THERE!

Four Paws Up!

Four Paws Up!

 

Lovingly,

Harley McGuire

 

 

For the best in Arizona news and views, read www.SedonaEye.com daily!

For the best in Arizona news and views, read www.SedonaEye.com daily!

9 Comments

  1. Skittle says:

    I like it when animals are kept safe! via Twitter

  2. Very important info, Harley. Thanks for reminding us of this critical fact. Don’t forget the children, too. So many times, people leave their kids & babies in the car as well.

    Keep on informing us, Harley.

  3. Skipper says:

    My Mom takes me to the dog park very early in the morning when it’s cooler. Then she comes home and drops me off to run her errands. I don’t like being alone, but I like being cool. From one cool “Dude” to another.

  4. Martha says:

    Harley McGuire, what a wonderful and timely message on keeping your pets cool in the summer time. Only an idiot would leave a poor puppy in a hot car to suffer in triple digit temperatures. Makes you want to do the same to the person who is guilty of doing the deed.

  5. Buster says:

    Well, Harley McGuire, just when ya think ya herd it all, up pops another surprise. The other day I was with my daddy at a store and some dumb 2-footer had left a birdie in the car. Yep, a birdie called somthin like a mackady that talks as long as it can still breath. We saw one switching sholders at the Pet Smart a while ago. Maybe it was the same one. Also hope thems that called for help arrived in time to rescue that sweet birdie. We were sad. We are lucky to have humans who care about us. Thank you Harley for the good remember things to do for thems that can’t do for themselves.

  6. Nikki & Mojo says:

    Mojo & I sometimes complain (silently) because our Mom wakes up at 4:30-5:00 am so she can take us on our 6-7 mile hike every day. But we appreciate it later because it is always cool & we stop at the park to get fresh water and our feet are not on the hot pavement. Soooo, we get our exercise and enjoy the cool mornings along with getting to see a lot of wild life. We are always surprised at how many people are out walking are fellow friends at that time. We’re back in the house by 8:30-9:00 am where we rest before breakfast…what a mom!!!

  7. Brandon says:

    Was nice to read comments.

  8. I wrote a very similar article for The Villager. Keep up the good work…. You Rock!

  9. I love these pictures. Pleasing story.

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