Whippet gives this public service announcement

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ialZgk4Ctc&feature=related

The dog has no way of dealing with the heat like we do. We perspire. A dog pants. That is all he she can do. The dog’s temperature can rise to a dangerous level in minutes.

It was early last spring I went out in my car with a friend of mine and both of our dogs. I don’t know the temperature but I was wearing jeans and a t shirt and light jacket, so that is some indications, it was neither stiflingly hot, nor freezing cold.

Cold or hot it is too extreme for a dog. A day like the spring day we were out, a short few minutes in a car is not going to be a risk for the dog generally. Yet I prefer to not leave my dog in the car anywhere and at anytime.

It becomes very difficult  to do, unless of course the obvious, leave your dog at home. But I don’t like to not include him in my fun. Did I really think it would be fun to pull him through antique shops, all of them gladly allowing him?

The only time we did leave them in the car is when we went for breakfast. It was overcast and started to rain and I had parked in the shade, I felt ok about it as I could see them and run out in 10 minutes and let them out, and come back, which I did. My friend thought I had some sort of anxiety or separation anxiety from my pet. He does travel with me to work and everyone loves him. He goes everywhere he can with me.

Most of my friends have dogs and have from time to time left them in cars, but not in the heat and not for long. I at first thought he was ok and would be, but then the sun came out. It still was not hot, only 14 I found out later, but I was worried.

This was in the spring, as I say, not warm. Today as I read this article and edit it, it is winter, yet in summer, any minutes a dog is left in a car are too many.

Please, please, do not leave your dog in the car in the heat.