As the temperatures continue to heat up throughout the upcoming summer, Orange County Animal Services issued a reminder earlier this month for pet owners to be mindful of the dangers the heat can present — particularly in parked cars.

In Orange County, it is illegal to leave animals inside a parked car if the outside temperature is above 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Temperatures in Orange County often rise above 90 degrees during the summer, making it important to know the potential dangers for your pets as a responsible owner.

Without the ability to produce sweat, pets’ bodies can’t regulate their internal temperatures in the same way that humans can. This leads to irreversible organ failure that can be fatal in just a matter of minutes inside a car or other overly heated environment.

“It’s actually best to leave your pet at home during extreme temperatures,” Tenille Fox of Orange County Animal Services said, in a recent interview with 97.9 The Hill’s Aaron Keck. “That is probably the safest thing to do, if possible. If you can’t, you want to make sure that you understand that temperatures in hot cars can rise quickly.”

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) also notes that it only takes 10 minutes on an 85-degree day for temperatures inside a car to reach 102 degrees.

Extreme heat can also present dangers to pets without access to fresh water, as they can become dehydrated quickly. Having a shaded environment to protect them from the sun is also critical.

Walking pets in extreme temperatures is also not advised since it can bring on heatstroke. Hot pavement can also cause quick damage to their feet.

 

Photo via Maria Orlova.

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