How to Safely Leave Pets in Cars
- 1). Do not leave your pet in the car alone for more than 10 to 15 minutes. Make sure that you know exactly where you need to go. Even then, avoid doing this during the hottest part of the day.
- 2). Park in a parking deck or shaded area. If there are no shaded areas in the parking lot, do not leave your pet in the car, even for a few minutes. The risk is simply too great.
- 3). Leave the window cracked. This will help a little, but do not let it give you a false sense of security. The car can still heat up very quickly.
- 4). Set a timer on your watch or cell phone for 10 minutes. Decide in advance that when the alarm goes off that you will immediately stop what you are doing and return to the car.
- 5). For your own education, try leaving a thermometer in your car sometime when the car is in an unshaded parking lot on a hot sunny day. Check the thermometer after 15 minutes. Check it again after half an hour. You will quickly understand the risk.
