If You Love Your Puppy, Leave Buddy Home In The Heat: Beverly ACO

BEVERLY, MA —If you love your little buddy then leave him or her home in the extreme heat.

That is the message from Beverly Animal Control in an impassioned plea to North Shore residents not to bring their dogs (or their cats, for that matter) with them on errands while temperatures soar toward 100 degrees.

"Please pay attention to the temperature for the day before even thinking about taking your pet with you in your vehicle," Beverly ACO said. "If it is over 60 degrees outdoors LEAVE YOUR PET HOME! Unless you are taking your pet to a destination where they are getting out of the vehicle with you! Hundreds of dogs die each year from heatstroke and most of the time this can be avoided."

Beverly Animal Control said even leaving the air conditioning on in the car while making stops is not advised.

"Your air conditioner can break at any time," animal control said. "YES, this has happened and dogs have died as a result. When the AC breaks it either stops working, which allows your vehicle to heat up from outdoor temps, OR it starts to blow hot air."

Danvers police said they have issued citations in that town for animal neglect in recent weeks.

"Summer has just begun, and we have already responded to multiple calls for dogs left unattended in hot vehicles," police said. "Some of these incidents have resulted in criminal charges being filed against dog owners, a felony offense in Massachusetts."

Leaving a pet in a hot vehicle is a citable offense for animal cruelty and neglect.

In Aug. 2016, an amendment was made to state law to protect animals in vehicles.

According to the law, after making a reasonable attempt to find the owner a firefighter or law enforcement officer "may enter a motor vehicle by any reasonable means to protect the health and safety of an animal.

"The owner may retrieve the animal only after payment of all charges that have accrued for the maintenance, care, medical treatment and impoundment of the animal."

The statute states that the law enforcement officer or firefighter acting in good faith on the animal's behalf is immune to liability for any damage to the vehicle.

The violation is punishable by a fine of $150 for the first offense, $300 for a second offense and up to $500 for a third or subsequent offense.

"We know that you love your pets and this is why most of us love to bring them for rides, but this time of year it is NOT safe to EVER leave them in your vehicle," animal control said. "As ACOs one our of worst calls are those where we have to remove a dead dog from a vehicle that could've been easily prevented."

Residents are also reminded to keep in mind asphalt temperatures when taking dogs for a walk.

At 77 degrees air temperature, the asphalt in the sun can be up to 125 degrees. At 86 degrees, asphalt temperature is 135 degrees. At 90 degrees, asphalt temperature can be close to 143 degrees.

At 125 degrees, skin and paws can burn in less than 60 seconds.

Consider walking dogs before sunrise, after sundown and on grassy surfaces to protect their paws.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)