We are having record setting temperatures in Atlanta. Today the high will be 105 degrees. It is too hot for me to be outside very long. I can only imagine how my poor dogs feel in their fur coats.
Of course, they don’t really have to worry because they are spoiled rotten and not really interested in staying out for very long. They basically go potty and hurry back inside.
This time of year it is mandatory that you do not leave any furry creature in a car…whether windows are up or down…doesn’t matter…DON’T DO IT!
I work with a local dog rescue group called Little Nuggets Rescue out of Snellville, Georgia. Lynne is the owner and called me with some very disturbing news just the other day.
She and her son went to her vet to pick up a dog that was to be transported. Another rescue asked her to do this as a favor, but she didn’t know why.
As she entered the vet’s office she happened to notice a dog transport van parked with windows rolled down approximately 4 inches. She also noticed that some of the dogs were not able to stand or turnaround in their crates.
She found out later that the rescue did not want the dog released to this particular dog transport…Kats Waggin Train out of Tennessee.
She proceeded into the office and inquired to whom the van belonged. The vet tech pointed her to the van driver. She tried to speak to the driver but basically was ignored as the person was submerged in their phone call. This was around 1:00pm and the temperature was approximately 106 degrees outside. Lynne later found out that the driver had been in there for approximately 30 minutes.
She left the office stressing over these poor animals and called the police and the Department of Agriculture, but nothing could be done. The van was already gone.
Credit: Journal of the Louisiana State Medical Society
Do I even need to remind anyone that it takes only minutes for the inside of a vehicle to heat up to kill a dog from heat exhaustion?
A person responsible for transporting animals should know this better than anyone.
Please, please…a note to all dog and animal rescues. Be very careful whom you choose to take responsibility for these precious living creatures.
Mere minutes can mean life or death for a dog in a car on a hot summer day.
I am so grateful that there are legitimate organizations out there to transport rescue dogs to a happy destination. I hope and pray that they all arrive safely.
I wish I could get my hands on that transport driver!!