Heatwave Entails Deadly Danger For Dogs Left In Cars

Jul 30, 2019

The summer has reached its height, and the northeast is enduring a heatwave. Residents need to be sensible. No dog, no child, no animal of any kind should be left in a car alone. If you do, it might end deadly.

This is exactly what happened in Jamestown, Rhode Island on July 21, a scalding hot Sunday. Temperatures were around ninety degrees in the shade. A 65-year old woman left her dogs in the car. They had no water. The windows were up. She left them there in miserable conditions and caused a 4-year-old gray keeshond, a 4-year-old black Labrador Retriever, and a 7-month-old black lab puppy to pass away that day.

This horrible incident happened because of the owner's poor judgment and negligence. Those poor, dead dogs are now reminders of the horrors a hot day can cause, especially to helpless creatures trapped inside cars. According to the American Kennel Club, dogs are highly susceptible to heatstroke. Hundreds of unfortunate creatures die in hot cars each year.

Some bystanders saw these suffering animals, and they did the right thing. They contacted emergency officials. They freed the dogs from that death box. However, even outside the vehicle, the dogs did not respond. The gathering crowd of outraged spectators tried their best to save the animals. They cooled the dogs with ice and tried to revive them. The Jamestown Fire Department even rushed those poor animals for medical care. All these efforts were too late to make a difference. The dogs died on the way to the Newport Animal Hospital.

To prevent such a cruel death from happening again, we collected some tips on how to keep your pets safe in these hot temperatures:

It can be hard to notice, but your pet may be suffering or at risk for heat-related complications on blazing hot summer days. Look out for these signs:

• Excessive Thirst
• Heavy Panting
• Losing Balance
• A Glazed Look In The Eyes
• Vomiting
• Weakness
• Excessive Drooling
• Seizure
• Loss of Consciousness

If your dog demonstrates symptoms of a heat stroke, you should take action as soon as you notice them.

• Move your dog to an area where he or she will be cooler.
• Try to get the dog to drink small amounts of water. Be careful with the portion. Large amounts of water can cause the dog to vomit.
• If you are able, take the dog's temperature.
• Once the dog is stable and comfortable, make a call to a veterinarian.

By following some of these tips, you can make sure to prevent the scary and gut-wrenching consequences that these 3 dogs had to go through. Spread the word about this story so others can be informed! 

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation by your vet. Your pet's health is important to us!