Deputy Rescues Dog Accidentally Locked In Hot Car

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — As July temperatures continue to soar into the high 90s, law enforcement agencies are asking residents to be on the lookout for pets who've been left in cars.

On Saturday, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Deputy Meghan Pantano was called by a distressed owner after a dog was accidentally locked inside a car in the Palm River Area.

With help from Pop A Lock, Pantano was able to rescue the dog before it experienced life-threatening consequences from the heat. With some water and a cool-down in an air-conditioned room, the dog recovered.

However, other pets haven't been so lucky. According to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, 23 pets have already died this year from heat-related causes.

With increased wait times when running errands due to coronavirus precautions, PETA is concerned that this summer could see an unprecedented number of hot weather–related animal deaths.

On even pleasant days with temperatures in the high 70s, the temperature inside a parked car can soar to 100 degrees in just minutes.

But on a 90-degree day, the interior temperature can reach as high as 109 degrees in less than 10 minutes.

Dogs, which don't sweat and can cool themselves only by panting, can rapidly succumb to heatstroke, even if a vehicle is parked in the shade with the windows slightly open, which has little to no effect on lowering the temperature inside.

If you see a pet locked in a hot car, you don't have to wait for a police officer or deputy to rescue the animal. Florida politicians passed a law in 2016 that allows bystanders to break the window of a vehicle to rescue a pet or vulnerable person believed to be in danger from the heat.

Before taking that step, the bystander should try to find the owner. If the owner's not around, check to see if the vehicle door is locked. If it is locked, look for signs that the pet is in imminent danger. Signs of heat stress include panting, glazed eyes, unsteadiness and vomiting.

Then call the local law agency's non-emergency line to alert them of your intention to break a vehicle window to rescue a pet. Once the pet is free from the vehicle, wait for emergency officials to arrive so the pet is never left alone.

Once the animal is out of the car, gradually lower its temperature. Take it to an air-conditioned area and lightly sprinkle it with cool water. Do not soak the animal in water because that could cause the temperature to drop too low. Cool, wet towels can be placed on the back of the neck, in the armpits and in the groin area.

Offer the animal water, but don't force it to drink.

Get the animal to a veterinarian as quickly as possible. Call ahead to make sure a vet is available to immediately provide treatment.

The following tips will help keep animal companions safe in hot weather:

• Keep animals indoors, and leave them at home when it's hot outside. Unlike humans, dogs can sweat only through their foot pads and cool themselves by panting, so even brief sun exposure can have life-threatening consequences.
• Never leave an animal inside a hot vehicle. Temperatures can quickly soar in parked cars, and a dog trapped inside can die from heatstroke within minutes. PETA offers an emergency window-breaking hammer for help with intervening in life-or-death situations.
• Avoid hot pavement. When outdoor temperatures reach the 80s, asphalt temperatures can climb to 140 degrees, causing pain, burns and permanent damage to dogs' paws after just a few minutes of contact. Walk dogs on grass whenever possible, and avoid walking in the middle of the day. Never run with dogs in hot weather—they'll collapse before giving up, at which point, it may be too late to save them.

Courtesy PETA