Every year dogs die because they’ve been left in a hot car. Why? All because some people think it is enough to park in a shady spot or just crack the windows in their car. Sadly, too many people are misinformed about the dangers of these practices. Thanks to the RedRover My Dog is Cool campaign, you can help inform others and save dogs’ lives.

Act Now!

• Tag offenders — Print a supply of these “Don’t Leave Me in Here — It’s Hot!” fliers and keep handy in your pocketbook or your car’s glove compartment.  Then, place fliers under the windshield wipers of parked cars with animals inside.

• Display posters—Ask if you can hang these posters in stores, banks and the post office. See the full list of free printable fliers and posters at My Dog is Cool.

• Make a pledge– to keep your dog cool. They’ll even post your photo and pledge in the “My Dog is Cool” photo gallery!

Why It Matters

Enclosed cars can heat up quickly. On an 80 degree day, the temperature inside a car can rise to 99 degrees in 10 minutes and 109 degrees in 20 minutes. Even on a moderately shady day, a car can heat up to 116 degrees in one hour. Studies show that cracking a window has little effect on the interior temperature of a car.* Dogs are especially vulnerable to heat stroke and other heat illnesses.

Education is the best way to help save lives. Dog lover and author of Secrets of the Wolves Dorothy Hearst is one person who is passionate about spreading the word.

People who love their dogs and take excellent care of them can unintentionally cause the death of the companions they love because they don’t know how quickly a car can become an oven.

Recently, Hearst prepared to approach Subaru to ask them to help educate about this danger in their “Dog Tested, Dog Approved” advertising.

While thrilled to discover the car manufacture is planning an add-on to their commercial, “I would love for them to take this to the next level and to use one of their creative, engaging commercials specifically to spread this message,” Hearst says.

You could join her. “Subaru’s Facebook page would be a great place to ask them to do so.”

Can you think of other ways to help spread the word?.