Readers Respond: A parked car can be a deathtrap on a warm day

Each year, animals die in cars. If you saw an animal left unattended in a car, would you call for assistance? Have you helped animals in this way before? Viewers say yes - they have helped.

Please post your experiences and tips here then print out flyers and posters to help spread the word. You may save a life.

Too hot for your dog??

Today I was very upset. After shopping at Walmart-walking out to my car I heard a dog barking. It was over 100 degrees today. I went to the car and saw a small puppy on the floor of a junky car. I ran to the soda machine and got a bottle of water. When I got back to the car a young man (Walmart worker) had opened the car and took the dog out of the car. I then took him from the young man and gave him water and was sprinkling some on the puppy. I do not know how long he had been left alone in the car but I do know that I stayed outside holding him for 30 minutes until the owner came out of the store. Her reply "Excuse me- give me back my dog." My reply "You're lucky you still have a dog and he isn't dead!" We exchanged some other words I wont go into and I left. I wish I would've called the police but I was really worried about getting the dog water and making sure he was ok. 20+ people reported the dog in the car to the Walmart supervisor prior to me- I hope I made some impact.

—AndyNorth

please people it's hot out there

I seem to call 911 every year,yesterday topped it tho. I was at pet supermarket waiting outside in my truck for my son.noticed car 2 over from me, was there before me, and i was already there for 5 minutes, had two small dogs inside a hot car with the windows rolled up with just an inch left open. i mean this is pet supermarket, you can bring your dogs inside. well i went into the store and confronted the girl and i was told to mind my own business and her dogs were fine, i told her they were not fine and she needed to go get them, again mind my own business. i went to the front of the store and told the manager who, this is the unbelievable part says to me, i cannot call the police. so i called the police, along with someone else. this girl says i will wait for the police inside you can watch the dogs, which i did, to keep a monitor on there condition. i live in naples florida, and yesterday it was around 96 with a heat index of 101. thank god they survived,but i was ready to break a window.

—pattiesk9s

Over reaction

One Sunday morning, I went to breakfast, I had all four of my dogs. It was 69 degrees, I had all for windows cracked two inch, and my sunroof was all the way open, and I was parted in the shade. Someone called to police and a policeman and a Humane Shelter worker came into the restaurant looking for me. Nothing happened, but it was embarrassing, the human shelter worker said they had to answer all calls. The thermometer I keep in my truck said 69 degrees as well.

—Guest Don

How can you be so cruel?

When my GSD stays in the car for any length of time (after swimming, I often stop at a convenience store to get him clean water and a drink for myself), I leave the car engine running and the AC on. I mean, who is going to try and steal my car with a 110 pound German shepherd looking out at him? Culloden is usually looking forward to treats and is quite protective of the vehicle. I've also been known to cut in line at the check-out if there is more than one customer in front of me. "The dog is alone in the car" is usually excuse enough, and I thank my fellow humans for their forebearance.

—Guest Ileach

Shelter advice

Today I saw a small poodle in a parked car with all the windows closed (temp outside was about 83 degrees). I went into two nearby stores to ask abut the dog in the car. Finally, a lady came out of a drug store and proceeded to get in the car. When I spoke to her about the dangers of leaving a pet in closed car on a warm day, she replied she had not been in the store for more than 5 minutes. Also, she said she worked for an animal shelter and the shelter people say that an animal can be kept in a closed car for 5 minutes without any harm...she was not pleasant about my speaking with her but finally thanked me for my concern but I felt she was very irritated with me.

—HelenHavelka

Pet in locked car

If it is outside of a store, I go in and ask for the license plate to be paged. I also call the police and put a sticker on the car about the ramifications of frying the pet! The problem is that the police frequently do not want to do anything. Other suggestions would be helpful.

—Guest oxford93

superstore

I went shopping today and saw a very large dog standing in a small boot of a mercedes , i went round the car to see if they left a window open and no i didnt find anything, so i wrote down the number plate and model and went into the superstore to let them call out the owner. the owner never turned up and when i came back the car was gone, i wished i could have spoken to the owner and it makes me so angry when people are ignorant.

—Guest Julia lowe

Self righteousness vs. common sense

There is no question that a closed car in direct sunlight on a moderately warm day is a deathtrap for any living thing left inside. The problem is that too many people don't have the common sense or simple basic knowledge to understand that just because a dog is waiting in a closed car, that the owner is automatically negligent or stupid. I have been approached by many people like the ones posting on this site who have paged me over store intercoms or threatened to call police, etc. at nighttime (no sun out at all, person said dogs would suffocate (hello) cars are not air tight. I have been reproached when the temperature outside was in the 60's, or even when it was raining because the six inches I leave the windows open wasn't enough in the judgement of the accusers. I love my dogs dearly, which is why I give them the treat of a ride WHEN I KNOW IT IS SAFE. If you are one of those people who loves to proclaim your superiority, at least take a simple course in biology or physics!

—Guest loquitakat

Wish I had called the cops.

Hot day in Aptos today, it got up to 97 in Santa Cruz, probably a record high. I pulled into CVS to get flu medicine for my boy and parked in the shade next to another car. When I returned to the my car about 8-10 mins later my wife pointed out to me the poor dog in the locked car next to us. I looked at the windows to see if any were open. A few small cracks. I looked in the back window and there was not even a water bowl. The brown lab was so hot his tongue was hanging out of his dripping mouth as he panted relentlessly. I started to call 911 then wondered if this would 'qualify' as an emergency. I considered breaking in and giving him the water bowl I have in my truck for when my dogs are with me but I just stood holding the phone, watching the parking lot. Here comes a big guy, I asked if this was his car, he said yea. I said, dude your dog is dying here. It's too hot. It escalates into a full on argument. An hour later the cops are here to give me a citizens arrest.

—Guest Mike D

Dogs left in cars on summer days

I broke into a car yesterday afternoon and took the puppy out. I stood outside with the dog for more than 5 min and then went in the store and paged the owners of the car. The woman was very huffy. I rescued a puppy in June, as well. The door was unlocked and I got the puppy out at about the time the owners came out. They were not mad.

—Guest heatwave100

Disappointing Attitudes

While visiting Applebee's for takeout, my boyfriend and I saw a couple pull in with a dog in their car. They cracked a couple of windows and went in with some friends. We sat there and took note of the license plate number and told my mother what we saw. She proceeded to call the cops. While we waited for our food, the cops showed up and the reaction of the people standing around was astonishing. I heard many comments such as, "It's JUST a dog! Who cares?" I assume the owners did not get in any type of trouble because the cop seemed to think it was ridiculous. it was terrible to witness.

—Guest Kelly

Dogs left in cars during summer

I was at the beach and noticed a dog left in an SUV in the parking lot as I was going to get a sandwich. When I came back the dog was still there. I went to my blanket and checked another 15 minutes later, and the dog was still there. I flagged down a police car and asked them to contact animal control. Animal Control jimmied the car door and took the dog out. It was more than 2 hours from when I first saw the dog that I left the scene and its owners still had not arrived. The car was parked with the back window facing due West as the summer sun was setting and baking right into the car. I was embarrassed about contacting the cops at first, but after two hours I was glad I had done it.

—shellynina

Window's Sealed Tight!

I walk out of Marshall's with my 14 yr. old daughter to find that the car next to me has 2 beautiful medium sized dogs in it with the all the windows completely sealed up -- it's 76 degrees out -- I wait about 10 minutes -- finally the owner comes out wearing scrubs. I slowly approach her vehicle and let her know that I've been waiting for her to come out as she may not have known but her windows are up in the car with her 2 gorgeous dogs inside. She tells me that she was in the store for under 10 minutes ( big lie) I let her know that I've been waiting for her and it's already been over 10 minutes. She then tells me that she's a vet tech, the dogs are from FLORIDA and they're used to the heat!!! I said "really, you're a vet tech" -- please tell me where you work, so that I can let everyone I know, not to go there. She told me to mind my own business, I said, I guess this is my business and it will be the local police station's business in about a minute as I called to give info.

—Guest Rocco's Mom

Call police stay with the car

Very thing happened this am. Called the cops, I waited 10 minutes after I saw the dog. Woman showed up before cops, I told her off she ignored me and drove off.

—Guest Cyn

Pets left in a hot car

My dogs love to go with me and they usually do. My solution has been to leave my vehicle running and lock the doors with a key fob. They ride in a strapped down and secure kennel crate and I carry a small ice chest with crushed ice and water for us all. I had two times where people didn't realize my engine was running with the air conditioner on full blast and I graciously thanked them for their concern and just asked them to please just check to see if the motor is running next time. I reported a dog in a hot car just today no air conditioning running. I called animal control no water. I know I am taking a risk of someone smashing my window and stealing my vehicle, but sometimes it can't be avoided. But if I know I will have to stop somewhere they get left at home. Sandra

—Shiloh64