Leaving An Animal In The Car: What Are The Risks?
“It will only take five minutes”, “it’s not that hot” or “I leave the window a little open” are the most common excuses for leaving an animal in the car. Did you know that this habit could be fatal to him? We will tell you more in this article.
Leaving an animal in the car can be fatal
It doesn’t matter what time of year we are or the outside temperature, or how long it takes us to run an errand. Pets in cars suffer greatly and can even die. Yes, even if you leave the windows down a little.
Many dog owners are unaware that the vehicle can become a deadly trap for animals. Even those who consider them as family members. In fact, if we leave them in the car, even just for a few minutes, it means that we consider them as a simple object, like a bag or a suitcase.
We must be responsible for our pets and offer them the best. If for some reason we cannot get them out of the car, then we should leave someone else with them in the vehicle.
If this is not possible, we should change our plans and bring them home, then go running our errands. But for no reason can we leave them in the car unsupervised.
Why can’t you leave a dog in the car?
This is not an exaggeration, nor is it to consider those who leave an animal in the car as animal torturers. However, you need to know what happens to dogs when they are left alone in the car.
The first factor to consider is the temperature inside the vehicle. With the windows closed and unprotected from the sun, the passenger compartment can turn into an oven, with varying degrees of difference from the outside. Even if you leave the windows a little open, it doesn’t make much difference. Heat can become equally unbearable for a living being.
Animals don’t regulate temperature the same way humans do. In the case of dogs, when they are hot they breathe and pant much faster. Plus, they take a lot longer than us to feel fresher.
In addition, they cannot carry a bottle of water to drink. And when left in the car, they probably won’t even have a container to drink and cool off from.
Other important factors
However, if we were based on this criterion alone, then in the winter we could leave pets in the cars. Nonetheless, other factors come into play beyond health. We are talking about stress and anxiety.
These two sensations appear when the animal is left alone, at home or elsewhere. We must keep in mind that the notion of time for dogs is not the same as for humans. They don’t know when we will return to rescue them or keep them company.
That lack of knowledge turns into palpitations, or a desperation that is expressed with howls and tears. If the animal fidgets in the car, its body temperature will rise.
This increases the chances of dehydration, another reason why we should never leave our pets in the car. In fact, it is good to remember that in this situation a dog is completely dependent on human intervention. He can’t open the door and get out or start the car and go home without us.
Leaving an animal in the car is irresponsible
It may sound like a harsh judgment, but it’s the truth. A dog is in many ways like a small child. Would you leave your child alone in the car while shopping? Of course not! Then you shouldn’t do this with a pet either.
It is true that you can take your child to the supermarket without problems, but dogs are often not allowed in some establishments. So the best way to solve the problem is to take the way home, leave the animal in a familiar and airy place, and then run our errands.
What should we do if we see a dog locked in a vehicle? First we should try to locate the owner, and if we can’t, call the police. Pets are living beings that deserve our respect. Leaving the dog in the car is an irresponsible act that can lead to his death. Don’t do it, please!
