We Americans love our cars, but they can be very dangerous, even deadly, if we leave our pets locked inside. Unfortunately, hundreds of pets die each year as a result of this. Busy people think that their furry family members will only be left unattended for a few minutes and that cracking the window will provide sufficient air flow. It doesn’t take much for a quick trip to the grocery store to take longer than expected because we run into someone we know and want to catch up, the store is busier than usual, or heaven-forbid — they’re giving away samples of Klondike bars — and we have to make one more pass for another taste. Others mistakenly believe that if it doesn’t feel that hot outside, their animal will be safe. Think about this — if you accompany someone else to the store but decide to stay in the vehicle, you’re not going to sit inside, with the air conditioning turned off. It gets stifling in a very short period of time. Now, imagine you’re covered in fur and lack apposable thumbs. You’re trapped and there’s nothing you can do but suffer.

After one hour, the temperature inside your car can eclipse the outside by 40 degrees. The longer the vehicles sits, the higher the inside temperature climbs.

Sixteen states have passed laws either making it illegal to leave an animal in a vehicle when it may endanger their life, or allowing good Samaritans to take action to free the animal from the hot car (i.e., smashing the car window.) If you believe that there is time, call 911. Law enforcement will respond and extract the animal from the vehicle.

Unless you’re taking Fluffy to the vet or Rover to the dog park, or some other animal-friendly venue, it’s good practice to leave them at home where you can control the climate and know that they’ll be safe. Of course they’ll miss you and you’ll miss them, but missing them for a couple of hours is worth it to save the life of the one that provides you with unconditional love.

If you do take your pet for a ride, please ensure that they travel safely. The captain has not turned off the seat belt sign, so it is NOT safe to roam around the cabin. Small animals may attempt to hide and end up wedged under the seat or worse impede the driver’s ability to stop or accelerate. Just as it isn’t safe for your child to ride on your lap, it’s just as dangerous for animals. Riding in the back of the pickup should also be avoided. To protect their safety, harness and fasten your pet inside the vehicle or transport them in a carrier which can be secured with the seat belt. Some areas of the country require that pets be properly restrained so that they do not interfere with or distract the driver. Others will impose fines if unrestrained pets are injured during travel.

As summer approaches and the mercury climbs, the danger increases. Please — keep your pets inside where they can live, happy, healthy long lives. If you must transport them, please keep them properly restrained, for your safety and theirs.