A dog trapped in a hot car was given a much-needed helping hand by the Sacramento Fire Department on Wednesday morning, and the pooch’s rescue was captured on camera.
The fire department had been alerted to the dog’s plight by a Good Samaritan who called 911, KCRA.com reports. When crews arrived at the car, which was parked near Sutter’s Fort, they discovered the dog locked alone and panting inside the vehicle. The windows were rolled up and no water had been provided.
According to a video uploaded to Facebook by the fire department, the temperature inside the vehicle was upwards of 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
Leaving a dog in a hot car -- even for a short duration -- can be extremely hazardous. As the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals notes, “Parked cars are deathtraps for dogs: On a 78-degree day, the temperature inside a parked car can soar to between 100 and 120 degrees in just minutes, and on a 90-degree day, the interior temperature can reach as high as 160 degrees in less than 10 minutes.”
Under these conditions, animals “can sustain brain damage or even die from heatstroke in just 15 minutes,” PETA says. “Beating the heat is extra tough for dogs because they can only cool themselves by panting and by sweating through their paw pads.”
Fortunately, the dog who was rescued Wednesday in Sacramento is said to be doing well. The dog and its owner have reportedly been reunited.
There are laws in California against leaving animals confined in vehicles. In this case, however, the owner was not cited, according to KCRA.com.
Just how hot can it get in a parked car? Watch the video below to find out:
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