Pets in cars are a tragedy on its way

Many people love their pets and love to have them around them all the time. So, many folks take them even when they’re running errands.

We had a couple of incidents this week that folks may lead people to reconsider when and how they carry their beloved pets in cars with them. Both cases involved leaving pets alone in cars with the parents went shopping.

The first person left his small, crated dog in the back of his car when he decided to run in the grocery store to pick up a few things. He left the windows cracked, which unfortunately does no good, especially since it was in the high 80s.

As usually happens, he spent more time in the store than he expected. The dog left in the car was yelping and attracting concern of shoppers in the parking lot. Then the dog lay down and became eerily silent. Fearing the dog was in distress, the store patrons where planning next steps when the dog’s dad came out of the store.

People seem to forget how quickly a car can turn into an oven. And in the South, the car’s more like a microwave. The pet’s wearing a fur coat too so whatever the actual air temperature is it’s so much worse for the pet. The temperature rises to a level that’s not survivable for an animal or a person for that matter.

Luckily, the dog turned out to be ok. But it was a close call and an unnecessary risk to the dog’s health.

The second episode last week also involved a person who left her dog alone in the car while she went inside the grocery store. Much to her surprise when she returned to her car her beloved pet had been stolen. To my knowledge at this time her dog hasn’t been found yet.

Although people love having their pets ride with them in the car and heaven knows we dogs sure love to ride, it may be wise to leave us at home instead while you run errands. If there is a time when you’ll have to exit the car and leave your pet in the car alone, you may want to reconsider taking your pet at all. There are just too many dangers lurking.

If you opt to carry your pet along take someone else who can stay in the running car while you run in the store. That reduces the chance of theft and heat stroke for sure.

Remember just like when you put a child in the car, there are safety precautions to take into consideration with your pet. Restraint is important for your pet in the event of an accident. It’s also important to keep from causing an accident. Some dogs and cats might decide to take a turn at the wheel or even try to press the pedals.

So secure your pet with a special harness and seatbelt. Then he would be able to safely sit near you without trying to drive and would stay within the car in the event of an accident.

Please leave your dog or cat at home. But if you do run errands with him, take necessary safety measures to make sure he’s safe.

This story was originally published April 26, 2017 at 5:19 PM with the headline "Pets in cars are a tragedy on its way."