An Ontario, California woman was arrested last Sunday on suspicion of animal cruelty after allegedly leaving two dogs and a cat inside a parked car while record-setting heat blasted away. One dog died. The American Veterinary Medical Association offers an educational poster at its Hot Cars and Loose Pets page. It also offers a chart of how hot the inside of a car gets on its Pets in Vehicles page.
Source: Los Angeles Times, July 11, 2017 (paywall).
It is unclear how long the dogs and cat had been trapped inside the car, but the surviving pets required emergency veterinary treatment.
INSIGHTS: As the AVMA chart shows, even a 70-degree day can create a hot car for pets. It and the poster make good counter material, window dressing and are great for new pet owner kits. Don’t be afraid to remind pet owners about checking pavement and concrete for excessive heat on hot days to keep paws from being burned.