Johnson: Hot vehicle no place for pets

Tongue flapping in the wind, huge gulps of fresh air; the occasional speeding bug and watching the world go by on a bright, sun-shiny day – what’s not to love?

Many a pooch’s day is made by an afternoon drive with their favorite human.

In search of ponies

Sure, not all critters like riding in the car – most cats would sooner take a bath and plenty of other pets have better things to do – but for some pets, going for a trip, even if it’s just around the block, is better than winning the lottery.

Truthfully, cruising around with the radio on and your best pal sitting happy on the seat beside you can be pretty fun for humans too, especially if the field trip includes a nice walk at the park or some other form of recreation.

There are, of course, some downsides to having the dog in the car, including but not limited to hair stuck to the seats, dashboard and everything else, slobber marks on the windows, drool drips on the seats and the potential of dirty paw prints depending on where the outing takes you.

Then again, spending quality time with the pooch away from home can be well worth covering the seats and having to do a little vacuuming and window cleaning.

Going for a drive with a critter in the summer months does, however, come with another catch – there really can’t be any stopping unless it’s at a place that will welcome a pet.

Plenty of places are happy to see a furry snout accompanying their owner – cashiers at drive-thru windows and pet-friendly stores are even known to hand out dog biscuits and head rubs to well-behaved pooches.

At the same time, there are also a lot of places where pets aren’t welcome, and that can cause a bit of a dilemma for an owner that needs to make a stop while out and about with the pooch.

There really is, however, no dilemma.

Some pups may be well behaved enough to be left unattended while their owner darts into a store to grab something quickly, but in the spring and summer months, even a few minutes in a closed car can have devastating results.

During a balmy, 70-degree day, the temperature inside a vehicle reaches 104 after 30 minutes. On a 95-degree day, common for New Mexico summers, the temperature is climbing above 114 degrees after only 10 minutes, according to San Francisco State University, where research was conducted on interior car temperatures.

Not only are even pleasant temperatures magnified very quickly within a car, researchers have found they continue to rise if the windows are cracked, despite the common belief that lowering the windows a little will circulate air and keep things cool.

All living creatures have a limit when it comes to heat, and for dogs, covered with fur and already running a temp of 101 – 102 degrees, the spike in temperature that takes place in a closed car can have almost immediate consequences.

According to the ASPCA, signs that a dog is in heat-related trouble include: Exaggerated panting, rapid or erratic pulse, salivation, anxious or staring expression, weakness and muscle tremors, lack of coordination, red tongue and lips, convulsions or vomiting, collapse, coma and death.

During the summer months, taking the dog out on the town can be great fun, but always plan ahead to be sure the dog can go everywhere you do and leave them home when running human-only errands – because for a pooch that has to wait in the car, even a quick stop at the store might be too long.

Sharna Johnson is a writer who is always searching for ponies. You can reach her at:

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