Animal Control: Recent heat wave taking its toll on pets
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SEATTLE -- The heat wave that's taken hold in Western Washington has been hard on many people, but Animal Control officials want to remind pet owners that the heat is even tougher for dogs.
While humans cope with the sweltering heat by sweating, dogs don't have that ability.
Seattle Animal Control employees have been busy the past few days. They're crisscrossing the city responding to calls of dogs left in the hot sun without water or, even worse, locked inside cars.
A local woman ended up in hot water Friday when she left her dog inside her parked car on a rooftop parking lot. A man named Mark Hoffas saw the overheated dog and waited five minutes for the owner to return. When she didn't, he called 911 and Animal Control.
"I don't see any water in the car," Hoffas said."The window's cracked maybe an inch, maybe an inch."
While waiting for the woman to return, Hoffas said he conducted an experiment.
"To prove my point to my wife, I turned off our air conditioning and I'm dripping sweat. Though dogs don't sweat, they've got to pant," Hoffas said.
The woman eventually returned. She said she couldn't leave the dog at home so she brought him out to run an errand. She said she was hurrying and left the car window rolled down.
"I was only in there for half an hour," she said.
Even in a relatively short period of time, the inside of a car can heat up quickly. Putting a thermometer inside a car shows that in just 5 minutes time, the temperature inside rose to 97 degrees. After 20 minutes the temperature reached 119. At 30 minutes the heat radiated up to 124 degrees.
Dog owner Michael Calderon said he would never leave his dog inside a hot car.
"It's like leaving a baby in the car," he said. "They can't defend themselves. They can't do anything. They can't roll the windows down. They can't turn the car on or the AC on, so they're stuck and they can overheat real quick."
While humans cope with the sweltering heat by sweating, dogs don't have that ability.
Seattle Animal Control employees have been busy the past few days. They're crisscrossing the city responding to calls of dogs left in the hot sun without water or, even worse, locked inside cars.
A local woman ended up in hot water Friday when she left her dog inside her parked car on a rooftop parking lot. A man named Mark Hoffas saw the overheated dog and waited five minutes for the owner to return. When she didn't, he called 911 and Animal Control.
"I don't see any water in the car," Hoffas said."The window's cracked maybe an inch, maybe an inch."
While waiting for the woman to return, Hoffas said he conducted an experiment.
"To prove my point to my wife, I turned off our air conditioning and I'm dripping sweat. Though dogs don't sweat, they've got to pant," Hoffas said.
The woman eventually returned. She said she couldn't leave the dog at home so she brought him out to run an errand. She said she was hurrying and left the car window rolled down.
"I was only in there for half an hour," she said.
Even in a relatively short period of time, the inside of a car can heat up quickly. Putting a thermometer inside a car shows that in just 5 minutes time, the temperature inside rose to 97 degrees. After 20 minutes the temperature reached 119. At 30 minutes the heat radiated up to 124 degrees.
Dog owner Michael Calderon said he would never leave his dog inside a hot car.
"It's like leaving a baby in the car," he said. "They can't defend themselves. They can't do anything. They can't roll the windows down. They can't turn the car on or the AC on, so they're stuck and they can overheat real quick."
I sell this
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After seeing too many tragic cases of animal hypothermia and heatstroke due to the desert's extreme climate, New Mexico-based veterinary worker Denice Pruett created Is It Too Hot For Spot?âa static-cling window thermometer. This clever thermometer easily secures to your car window for an accurate indication of the current temperature inside your vehicle.
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I sell these locally.
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How big if a dumbass do you have to be to leave your dog locked in a car in 90+ degree heat!   I sure hope they take the dog away from her and dont give it back..........I guess its really true, you cant fix stupid!
Not my pets. The doors are open with fans, their water bowl has rocks and ice in it (keeps the water cool), they also like to drink from a small table-top fountain, and they have the ability to find shade in the trees or play. People who insist on taking their dogs with them should ensure those dogs have water with them and are able to get out of the auto!
I should also mention that I don't take my pets with me - they stay at home where they can be comfortable and safe!
Yesterday I walked out to the patio and my 12 year old dog was sleeping in the direct sun on the hot paving - and was panting faster than a heart in defib...I made her move into the shade...
When I went shopping I saw people with their dogs in the stores - kudos to the stores for letting them take the dogs out of the car!
Lady, you're too stupid to own a pet. YOU sit in the car in the blazing sun with the windows rolled down an inch. Let me know how it works out for you.
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If you can't leave your pet at home, or with someone, DON'T GO.
so true!
even after the embarassment of the passerby, animal control and KOMO she still didn't seem to get it !Â
good for the man who stopped what he was doing for a moment to have concern for this poor dog.
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why do people who do stupid things (and get caught) try to explain themselves? nope - its already proven that you are an idiot, thats why animal control is here. "b-b-but i was only in the store for 30 minutes"
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 just shut up, thank the man who looked out for your dog with more concern than you had, and hopefully pay a fine to animal control wasting their time because of folks like yourself.
If I came across a situation like this, I wouldn't hesitate to beark a window and let the dog out. If she is this stupid on one occasion she would do it again.
Leave your animal at home. Use common sense in hot weather.
Reasons this woman is a total moron:
1. She left her dog in the car
2. She left her dog in the car on one of the hottest days of the year.
3. She left her dog in the car on one of the hottest days of the year for 30 minutes!
4. She left her dog in the car on one of the hottest days of the year for 30 minutes and then went on television.
5. She left her dog in the car on one of the hottest days of the year for 30 minutes and then went on television and DEFENDED herself?!!!
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Darwin awards
 agreed!
 @makeadifference I am going to bet you she is a college professor. That would cover the practical stupidity, arrogance, and cluelessness.Â
 @Citizen#3457899654 well she certainly isn't the President of PETA
There are enough individuals who are complete idiots that there is no way in h*ll I am going to put all my faith in the Almighty Individual in this country. Good on the passerby who had more brains and was more genuinely concerned about the dog than the owner. Couldn't leave the dog at home but could leave the dog in a broiling car on a hot day. ya, effing genius this lady is.Â
Stupid Effing woman. I feel sorry for dogs who have to live with such idiot humans
"I was only in there for half an hour." I'm sorry, I know this is someone's mother or sister or wife, but I've gotta say to her, you are a flippin' idiot. Were you born yesterday? Have you been locked away in a dungeon for the past 50 years? 30 minutes is a long time in this heat. I hope she's at least facing a fine.
People are such idiots. Dogs feel the heat even MORE, with their fur coats on. How about that lady throws on a fur coat and sits in a car for "only" half an hour? This is a great reminder to people--CALL 911 and Animal Control if you see an animal in a car, or tied up without access to water for more than a few minutes. It may seem silly, but you really could save a dog's life. As a dog owner, I truly can't imagine leaving them in the car for more than a few minutes even on a 60-degree day. I wouldn't leave them in the car for a SECOND on a day over 75.Â
Ya - look her in a car on top of a roof with less than an inch of window open for 30 minutes on a 90 degree day.
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Hey, it is JUST 30 minutes.
The inside of a car is a perfect solar oven. Next time you stay in the car with the windows cracked lady, and let your dog go and fetch whatever you need from the store.
Hey lady! 30 minutes is more than enough! Catch a clue! And I hate to say that to a fellow Doors fan. Seriously people! Common sense!
People, and I use the term loosely, like her shouldn't be allowed to have companion animals.