Dear Editor:
After more than 15 years of telling folks of the dangers of leaving their pets in a hot car, it totally amazes me to see a dog left in a car at a shopping mall. As summer begins and readers start enjoying some of the wonderful places to visit in New Jersey, the shore, Great Adventure, Lake Hopatcong, Cape May, and start going to ball games and picnics, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) urges you to leave your pet at home.
On a warm day, the temperature in a parked car can reach 120 degrees in a matter of minutes, even with the windows partially open. High temperatures can cause your pet to suffer from brain damage or die from heatstroke or suffocation. You should be alert for the signs of heat stress: heavy panting, glazed eyes, rapid pulse, unsteadiness, a staggering gait, vomiting or a deep red or purple tongue.
If your pet becomes overheated, you must immediately take steps to safely lower his body temperature:
Move your pet into the shade and apply cool (not cold) water all over his body.
Apply ice packs or cold towels to your pet’s head, neck and chest only.
Let your pet drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes.
Take your pet to a veterinarian right away, it could save your pet’s life.
If you see an animal in a care exhibiting signs of heat stress, call your local animal care and control agency or police department immediately. In New Jersey, state law mandates that any animal in a person’s care must be provided with proper shelter or protection from the weather. Violators may be subject to a sizable fine or six months in jail, or both.
To receive a small supply of “Hot Car” flyers, which can be placed on car windshields to alert owners to the dangers of leaving their pets in a parked car, send a self-addressed, stamped, legal size envelope to Hot Car, The Humane Society of the United States, Mid-Atlantic Regional Office, 270 Route 206, Flanders, NJ 07836.
Nina Austenberg, Director
The Humane Society of the United States