Dog Rescued from Car Where Temperature Reached 131 Degrees

Being a pet owner is huge responsibility. For the most part, people who yearn to be pet owners turn out to be decent and loving to their pets. However, there are always exceptions to the rule. We always hear people say that pets are like children. You basically have to do majority of their care. Pets are pretty incapable of self-care, especially dogs. Dogs are some of the best companions humans could ever have. There’s a reason why they are called man’s best friend. Dogs are loyal. They will love you and adore you to a fault. They will protect you and your family. They will make you laugh and keep you company. For dog lovers, dogs are more than just pets. They’re family. This is why it always comes as a shock when we hear about humans mistreating their dogs. On July 28, 2020, a pet owner was arrested for leaving his dog unattended in a vehicle. According to news reports, the incident happened in San Jacinto, Riverside County, California. The temperature in the area at the time was already at 99 degrees, and that was the temperature reading outside the vehicle.

Different states have enacted differing laws about when it is illegal to leave a child/children unattended in a vehicle for a certain amount of time. According to California legislation, it is illegal to leave a child six years old or under unattended in a vehicle unless they are accompanied by a 12-year old and safety risks are addressed. It’s difficult to imagine that any pet owner wouldn’t think this law would apply to dogs or pets as well. In fact, California Penal Code Section 597.7 PC states that is absolutely illegal to leave any pet unattended for any period of time in a vehicle—regardless of weather or temperature outside. It’s also safe to argue that regardless of whether a citizen and pet owner knows about this law or not is irrelevant. Leaving a pet in a car is something that just does not make sense to do.

That’s exactly what happened to Boomer on that unfortunate day. Boomer was left by its owner inside a vehicle for an undetermined amount of time before it was rescued. The small dog was yelping and barking from inside the vehicle when a passerby heard the noise. It as clear right away that the dog was in distress, but matters became worse after Boomer appeared to have stopped moving. Although the reports weren’t clear as to how Boomer was taken out of the vehicle, it was obvious that the passerby had to act quickly. Boomer was somehow taken out of the vehicle and attended to immediately until the sheriff deputies arrived onto the scene. According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Boomer was placed in an air-conditioned patrol vehicle to bring its body temperatures back to normal. It was determined that the temperature of the vehicle was at 131 degrees internally when the puppy was rescued.

The Sheriff’s Department continues to advise pet owners never to leave their pets in cars regardless of how long they are going to be gone. It’s been reported that temperatures in vehicles can jump up to 120 degrees even when windows are slightly open. Temperatures of roughly 107 degrees can already cause significant damage to a pup’s brain, so you can imagine the dangers any higher temperature could cause at any given time. In addition, heat is not the only problem. Pets can suffer equal harm when exposed to cold temperatures as well. You can also risk your dogs getting too cold during the cooler months. It’s important to understand that animal biology is different from humans. According to this article from doghealth.com, dogs do have sweat glands, but they aren’t as effective in keeping their bodies cooler the way human sweat glands do for human bodies. Dogs’ sweat glands are far and few in between, and they are covered in fur. This means that dogs have to rely on other measures to keep their bodies cooler in hot temperatures. They rely on panting, shade, and drinking water to stay cool. Keeping dogs in a hot, enclosed vehicle can be nothing but disastrous to dogs’ lives.

It’s also disastrous for pet owners. Boomer’s owner was eventually found and arrested by the Riverside County Deputies on suspicions of animal cruelty. No further information is available at the moment on the status of Boomer’s former owner. As for Boomer, everyone is hoping that things turn out for the better for the rescued puppy. Boomer is currently residing at the Ramona Humane Society, where it is awaiting adoption. We’re all hoping that Boomer finds a better home once it gets adopted again. The story serves as a heavy reminder to not take pet owning lightly. As we mentioned at the beginning of this article, it’s quite the responsibility to care for animals and not everyone is cut out to be pet parents. If you have doubts or feel that you aren’t ready to own a pet, take your time before getting yourself a pet. Leaving your dog in a car might seem like an easy decision for you to make, but you’ll be inundated with hundreds of other decisions to make once you’ve become a pet owner. It’s important to know the value of your pets and to treat them with respect and love. Pets rely heavily on their humans for survival. Any kind of pets–cats, reptiles, and dogs like Boomer–deserve good homes and good companions much like humans do. If you aren’t ready to provide that for your pet, you’re probably not suited to owning one.