Please Don’t Do This To Your Dog!

Mesa County Animal Services reminds pet owners about the dangers of leaving dogs in hot cars, and we are here to hammer the point home!

Here we go again with another much-needed reminder concerning dogs and summer weather in western Colorado.

The fact is, leaving a dog in the car on a hot day can be devastating to your pet's health. Enclosed cars heat up quickly. In a recent study they determined that when it was 80 degrees outside, the temperature inside a car rose to 99 degrees in 10 minutes and 109 degrees in 20 minutes. Studies show that cracking the windows has little effect on a vehicle’s internal temperature

A dog’s normal body temperature is between 101 to 102.5 degrees; a dog can only withstand a high body temperature for a short time before suffering irreversible nerve damage, heart problems, liver damage, brain damage or even death. Signs of heatstroke/heat exhaustion include: rapid heartbeat, heavy panting, lethargy, lack of coordination, unconsciousness, glazed eyes and convulsions.

The Golden Rule is a good rule to live by, and it's good to adopt the same attitude with your pets. Do unto others as you would have them do  unto you. Would you want to be trapped in a car on a hot summer day in western Colorado? Of course, not. So why would it be okay for someone  to do that to the pet they supposedly love and adore?

The solution is simple. When it's hot, leave your pet at home with access to shelter, shade, and plenty of water. Don't take a chance on something bad happening to your "best friend."

By the way, if you happen to see a dog confined in a car during hot weather, please call Mesa County Animal Services at 242-4646.