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The dangers of leaving your pet in a hot, parked car

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[August 11, 2014]  LINCOLN - With the summer months upon us, pet travel is at it's height and it's time for a reminder about the dangers of leaving your pet in a parked car. Whether you're parking in the shade, just running into the store, or leaving the windows cracked, it is still NOT ok to leave your pet in a parked car.



Stanford University School of Medicine conducted a study to measure the temperature rise inside a parked car on sunny days with highs ranging from 72 to 96 degrees F. Their results showed that a car's interior can heat up by an average of 40 degrees F within an hour, regardless of ambient temperature. Ambient temperature doesn't matter - it's whether it's sunny out. Eighty percent of the temperature rise occurred within the first half-hour. Even on a relatively cool day, the temperature inside a parked car can quickly spike to life-threatening levels if the sun is out.

Further, the researchers noted that much like the sun warms a greenhouse in winter; it also warms a parked car on cool days. In both cases, the sun heats up a mass of air trapped under glass. Precautions such as cracking a window or running the air conditioner prior to parking the car were found to be inadequate.

"If more people knew the danger of leaving their pets in their parked car, they wouldn't do it," states Kim Salerno, President & Founder. "Pets are very susceptible to overheating as they are much less efficient at cooling themselves than people are" adds Salerno. The solution is simple - leave your pets at home if the place you are going does not allow pets.


Signs of heat stress include:  heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid pulse, unsteadiness, a staggering gait, vomiting or a deep red or purple tongue. If a pet becomes overheated, immediately lowering their body temperature is a must.

  • Move the pet into the shade and apply cool (not cold) water all over their body to gradually lower their temperature.
  • Then take the pet to the nearest vet.

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Creating greater awareness is the key to preventing pets from this unnecessary suffering. offers some tips to help spread the word:

  • A good start is to let friends know about the dangers of leaving their pets in a parked car and remind them to keep their pets at home on warm sunny days if they'll be going anywhere pets are not allowed.
  • Get involved. If you see a pet in a parked car during a warm sunny day, go to the nearest store and have the owner paged. Enlist the help of a local police officer or security guard or call the local police department or animal control office.  Note: it is against the law for a citizen to break into a vehicle to rescue a pet.  If the owner can not be located, do not take matters into your own hands.  Call authorities.

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About is the #1 online resource for pet travel. Named best pet travel site by Consumer Reports,'s mission is to offer resources that ensure pets are welcome, happy, and safe while traveling.  The website features a directory of pet friendly hotels and accommodations across the United States and Canada, as well as airline & car rental pet policies; pet friendly restaurants, beaches, and events; a user-friendly route search option;pet travel tips; pet travel supplies; and other pet travel resources.   


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