Brain damage risk rises for dogs in cars


It'S 9 A.M. and already 80 degrees; we're in for a scorcher. Like any other day, the phone calls begin to filter in to the Humane Society office on various issues. A co-worker says, "At least we won't have any dog-in-hot-car calls today. With this kind of heat, no one would dare leave their pet in the car."

It's noon and 95 degrees outside when the call comes in - A person has left a dog in the car at the mall. My heart starts to race as I take the information as quickly as I can. My main focus is to get the animal services officer there as soon as possible; all the while, I think, how could anyone leave his pet in a car on a day like today?

The officer arrives on scene within minutes; however, the parking lot is full and the caller's description of the car and its location were sketchy. Finally, she finds it. Inside is a medium-sized shepherd mix pacing and panting heavily. There is no time to waste, but the officer needs proof that she has "just cause" to remove the dog.

She takes the temperature of the inside of the vehicle. It's 130 degrees.

That's all she needs. The windows are down far enough to unlock the car door, and she removes the dog from the vehicle.

The dog is very lethargic and has labored breathing. She offers him cool water and wraps his body with cool towels to attempt to lower his body temperature. Just then, the dog's owner arrives on the scene.

"What are you doing with my dog?" he asks. "You had no right to break into my car."

The officer tells him his dog is suffering from heat stroke and is going to need immediate medical attention. Reluctantly, the dog owner agrees to follow her to the closest veterinary hospital.

The officer calls ahead and alerts the clinic to the dog's condition. The veterinary staff meets her out front and quickly gets the dog inside. Upon arrival, the dog starts to have a seizure. In this case, the veterinary staff was able to treat the dog and pull him through. However, the dog sustained some residual brain damage and now has some physical challenges.

Day after day during the spring and summer, the Humane Society receives numerous calls from the public about animals left in vehicles on warm days. Many people don't understand how dangerous this is. The only way you could begin to understand how a dog feels in a hot vehicle would be to wrap yourself in plastic wrap and put on a fur coat. Their bodies cannot sweat like humans. Instead, dogs cool themselves by panting - yet, hot air (breath) in a confined area only makes it hotter.

Dogs left in hot cars often appear to be OK, yet they sustain the effects of heat exhaustion. Because the heat literally cooks the animals from the inside out, brain damage can occur in as little as 10 minutes in a hot car. And cars get hot quickly, even on warm days and even in the shade.

If the potential for serious harm or death to their dogs doesn't deter owners, there's another reason to stop. It is against the law in Marin to leave a pet unattended in a vehicle on a warm day. Any law enforcement officer can and will use whatever means are necessary to remove a pet from a vehicle if the animal is in distress. In addition, the animal may be impounded and the pet owner cited.

The best thing to do is to leave your pets at home on warm days. And if you see an animal in a car on a warm day, get the vehicle description and license plate and call the Marin Humane Society immediately at 883-4621. Your call could save a dog's life.