I don't get fired up about much stuff. I can probably count on one maybe two hands, topics that I am passionate enough about to actually argue with someone about. Because I am incredibly chill. You know those people who seriously just want to have a heated discussion about everything, they are just waiting for you to disagree?? Not me. If it's not important, I'll just nod along. I couldn't care less.
Animals are right up the top of the short list of things I will passionately argue about. People that laugh or are indifferent to animal abuse. Oh they make my blood boil. I'm not a confrontational person at all. I will avoid confrontation endlessly. But don't you dare leave your dog in the car.
On Friday the 20th, in Australia it is meant to get to scorching temperatures of around 43 degrees celsius. That's about 110F. Do you know how ridiculously hot that it? It's crazy hot. It's not even Summer yet. At the beginning of the week I was wearing jeans and now before the end I'll be wishing I was in a pool in a bikini.
Here's the facts people. A stupidly large percentage of you are leaving your own children in the car on a hot day. These poor kiddies are the ones getting rescued by police and actually reported on, but we don't really know how many people are murdering their pets by leaving them in a hot car.
In the first 12 days of October, in just one state of Australia, (QLD) the Roadside Assistance folks were called out to 75 incidents, to help remove children from cars. 75!!
On a day where its 30 degrees out, it only takes around seven minutes for the car to reach 40 degrees. With the window cracked, and being parked in the shade making a "small and insignificant difference"
In just six minutes, on a hot day, you car can reach temperatures of up to 60 degrees! With it only continuing to rise! 6 minutes is all it takes to start to cause burns to your dog's skin.
How could you do that to him??
After 15 Minutes
Your dog may already be suffering from heat stress. His body temperature could already be at a level that causes fatal irreparable internal injuries.
After 30 Minutes
Your dog could be displaying severe signs of heat stroke. These symptoms include excessive salivating, vomiting, diarrhoea, and disorientation.
After 1 Hour
Your dog could be in serious danger. Every minute more that your dog spends in the heat worsens his symptoms, prolongs his suffering and decreases his chance of survival. By now, your dog may begin convulsing and suffer internal haemorrhages and organ failure. His death can occur quickly or may follow hours — or up to 1-2 days —later, even after being removed from a hot car.
Causing animals to suffer in any way is a criminal offence. If your dog suffers as a result of being left in a car, you can be fined $5,500 and can spend six months in jail. If your dog dies as a result of being left in a car, charges include $22,500 in fines and two years in jail.
For a fact sheet on Heatstroke Prevention, and what to do if your dog has heatstroke. Click Here!
You could lose your best mate in just 6 minutes. Don't risk it. Don't leave your dog in the car.
