When the temperature rises – it’s too hot for Spot®!
As New England continues to experience extremely hot summer conditions, this week the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) partnered with the New England Revolution, Massachusetts State Police (MSP), Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDot), and the motor vehicle registerfor the 10 of ARLth annual summer safety campaign, Too hot for Spot®to remind pet owners of the dangers of leaving a pet in a hot car.
ARL held a press event at the organization’s Dedham campus, which included a demonstration of how quickly a vehicle’s interior can heat up.
A large thermometer was placed in a vehicle by Slyde, the NE Revolution mascot, and with an outside temperature of 80 degrees, in less than 10 minutes the temperature inside the vehicle soared to over 115 degrees!
Unlike humans, animals cannot effectively cool their bodies.
And if you think breaking windows will help keep your pet cool, it’s not.
As demonstrated, the interior of a vehicle can reach temperatures well over 100 degrees within minutes, and the sweltering heat inside a car makes animals vulnerable to heatstroke, and the onset of symptoms. is fast.
Common symptoms of heat stroke in animals include lethargy or weakness, intense panting, glassy eyes, profuse salivation, excessive thirst, lack of coordination, dark red or purple tongue, vomiting – and this can even cause convulsions, loss of consciousness or death.
With the onset of heat stroke, every second counts, so if your pet exhibits any of these symptoms, it is essential that you take them to the nearest veterinary hospital immediately for treatment.
Health risks aside, it’s also illegal in Massachusetts to keep an animal confined to a vehicle when extreme heat or cold could threaten the animal’s health — and law enforcement nationwide. Commonwealth will be on the lookout throughout the summer.
Please, when it is hot outside, leave your pet at home.
Set them up in a cool room with controlled humidity and temperature, give them plenty of water, and be sure to limit their outdoor exercise to the morning or evening hours when it’s coolest.
Learn more about summer pet safety tips.
THANKS
ARL would like to thank the New England Revolution, the Massachusetts State Police, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, and the Motor Vehicle Registry for helping to disseminate ARL’s information. Too hot for Spot® summer safety campaign to the masses.
This campaign saves lives and ARL thanks you!