If You See Pet Locked In A Hot Vehicle In FL, Here's What To Do

TAMPA BAY, FL — With heat advisories issued throughout the week across Florida, veterinarians urged pet owners to leave pets at home in an air-conditioned room and never leave pets in a vehicle.

Higher temperatures can pose serious risks to pets. Every year, authorities receive reports of heat-related pet deaths as early as April, most of which are the result of a pet being confined in a hot car.

Studies have shown that if it is 72 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature inside a vehicle can reach 116 degrees Fahrenheit within an hour. When it reaches 80 degrees Fahrenheit, the inside of the car can reach up to 99 degrees Fahrenheit within 10 minutes.

This drastic change in temperature increases in severity as the weather outside heats up. In the first 10 minutes after a car is parked and the door is locked, the temperature inside a car climbs 19 degrees above the outdoor temperature, even with the window cracked. After an hour, the temperature inside the car rises to about 43 degrees hotter than the temperature outside.

Monday's high for Tampa Bay was 97 degrees, and temperatures will remain much the same throughout the week with a high of 96 degrees on Tuesday and 97 degrees on Thursday.

Veterinarians warn that even a casual walk with a dog on a sunny sidewalk when temperatures reach 95 to 100 degrees can cause second- and third-degree burns on a dog's paws.

Veterinarians.org analyzed five years of data from 2018-2022 to determine which states saw the highest number of reported heat-related pet deaths during this time period and, no surprise, Florida ranked high.

Related:

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• Deputy Rescues Dog Accidentally Locked In Hot Car
• Dogs Die In Hot Car At Pet Clinic After Being Rescued From Fire
• Owner Facing Cruelty Charges After Leaving Dog In Hot Car
• Dog Found Dead In Crate; Temperature Reached 133 Degrees

Florida's reported heat-related pet deaths during the analyzed period is four times more than the national five-year average and, in 2022, Florida saw its highest number of reported heat-related pet deaths during the studied five-year period.

1. Texas– 40
2. Florida– 26
3. California–14
4. Georgia– 13
5. Louisiana– 10
6. Ohio– 9
7. West Virginia– 9
8. Nebraska– 8
9. Nevada– 8
10. New York– 7

While the majority of heat-related pet deaths studied were the result of an animal being confined inside a hot vehicle, the analyzed reports also include incidents of heat-related death due to confinement in trailers, garages or sheds, as well as heat-related deaths due to animals being left outside in extreme heat with no shade or water.

In some cases, authorities or bystanders were able to successfully rescue animals at risk of a heat-related death.

In 2020, 2021 and 2022, 360 animals were rescued from hot cars, trailers, garages, sheds or yards. That equals a rate of over 100 animals requiring rescue from life-threatening, heat-related situations every year.

The most common states where such rescues occurred include:

• Florida
• Ohio
• California
• Nevada
• New York

The most common months for such rescues were:

• June
• July

Florida is among 11 states that allow law enforcement or bystanders to forcibly enter a vehicle to rescue a pet in danger of overheating.

According to statute 768.139, those who damage a vehicle in the pursuit of removing a vulnerable animal from dangerous conditions are immune from civil liability.

The law stipulates that the person who enters a vehicle with the intention of helping an animal must have a reasonable belief that it is in danger of suffering imminent harm if it is not removed.

Additionally, the damage done to the vehicle in pursuit of an animal in danger must be no more than necessary to free the animal. This means, to ensure immunity from liability, there cannot be excess damage done to the vehicle other than the force required to free the animal from the car, including breaking a window.

Before taking any action, law enforcement agencies advise bystanders to make an effort to locate the owner. If the owner can't be immediately found, bystanders should report the incident to law enforcement on the non-emergency line.

While awaiting law enforcement, if the pet shows symptoms of overheating, a bystander should try to retrieve the pet by forcing down a cracked window. Some people have successfully unlocked older-model vehicles by feeding a wire clothes hanger between the window of the door, hooking the latch and unlocking the door.

If it's necessary to break a window, choose the window furthest from the pet, cover a tire iron or other heavy item with a rag or T-shirt and use just enough force to break the window, ensuring that flying glass doesn't harm the pet.

Signs of heat stress include:

• Panting heavily
• Difficulty walking
• Glazed eyes
• Vomiting
• Lowered pulse rate
• A deep purple or red tongue

To protect against civil liabilities, bystanders should also take photos or videos of the pet, the damage done the vehicle to rescue the pet, the license plate and identifying marks or bumper stickers on the vehicle and an overview showing the vehicle's location.

Once the pet is rescued, take them somewhere cool and provide them with water so they can regulate their internal temperature. Sprinkle cold water over their coat and behind their ears and armpits rather than splashing them with water, which can drop their temperature too quickly.

Dogs do not produce sweat or react to heat the same way that humans do, so it is always necessary to ensure that they are able to cool themselves off whenever they are experiencing hot weather, especially the variety that occurs in Florida.

For more information on heat safety for pets, click here.