I’d like to ask you for help. Every time I go out – to the beach, the park or just to the store, I see car after car, parked with dogs left unattended in them, with the token gesture of leaving the window down a bit. When I see dogs left in cars it just makes me so angry, that I’m now on a bit of a mission to do something about it and I would really love your help.

Recently in the UK, headline news was made when two Police dogs were left by their handler unattended in a car. Both dogs died of heatstroke.

Heatstroke is a condition where the temperature of the body rises so far above normal that the body’s normal functions and processes become damaged and dysfunctional. When living cells are subjected to temperatures higher than their tolerance levels, the cells start to break down, lose functional capacity, and eventually cease to function. The blood thickens to the point that the heart has severe stresses placed on it in trying to pump the abnormally viscous blood through the blood vessels. Unless prompt and immediate action is taken the heatstroke victim will die from massive intravascular clotting, hemorrhaging, cerebral edema and kidney failure.

This is what happens to dogs left in cars. So what can you do to help?

I’ve put together a sheet informing owners of the dangers of leaving their pets in cars, which I print out and I keep a pile of these with me at all times and everytime I see a dog left in a car I put one on the windshield. I also have them up in some of the local stores.

What would be really good is if we could all do this. I’ve put up a copy of the notice that I use, which you can download from http://www.dog-care101.com/dogsincars.pdf It would be fantastic if you could print this out, keep some copies with you and put them on the windshield of any car you see with a dog left in it.

About the Author

Rebecca Prince is author of “Dog Care 101″, the best-selling guide to caring for your dog. “Dog Care 101″ is essential reading for all dog owners, giving you all you need to give the proper care your dog requires. Order “Dog Care 101″ from http://www.dog-care101.com