City and County of Broomfield Public Information Office
One DesCombes Drive · Broomfield, CO 80020 · (303) 438-6308

Media Release

Release Date: July 11, 2002
Contacts: 

Rosann Doran
Public Information Officer
303.438.6308 

Hot car a poor choice for pets

Community Service Officers (CSOs) are advising pet owners to use caution when traveling in a car with their furry friends this summer.

Summertime brings sunny skies and rising temperatures. On warm days, the inside of a car heats up very quickly and can climb to over 100 degrees in 10 minutes. A brief stop at the store while a pet rests in the car could turn into tragedy if precautions are not taken.

CSOs advise pet owners to never leave an animal unsupervised in a closed or poorly ventilated car. A dog’s normal body temperature is 101.5 to 102.2. A dog can withstand a body temperature of 106 to 108 degrees for only a very short time before suffering irreparable brain damage, or even death. The heat of a confined car interferes with a dog’s normal cooling process, which is evaporation through panting.

If a dog begins showing signs of heat exhaustion, including excessive panting and lethargy, immediately cover the animal with a cool, wet towel until the body temperature lowers. Keep the animal’s feet cool and moist; give small amounts of water to drink; and consult with a veterinarian immediately to determine if additional treatment may be needed.