WARM WEATHER WARNING: Don’t leave your pet in your car!

| Pets | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

With the temperature expected to go into the 80s tomorrow, we’ve received notes from several readers worried about people endangering their pets by leaving them in cars, and asking us to share this seasonal reminder. One sent along this link with the numbers, including: “On an 85-degree day, it only takes 10 minutes for the inside of your car to reach 102 degrees.” Leaving the windows open an inch or two will NOT prevent the interior from getting dangerously hot.

PE May 21, 2017 (8:02 pm)

Why are there so many freaking idiots out there who still leave their pets in the car on hot days ??? If I see a pet in a car I smash the window. No questions asked.

Resposnible May 21, 2017 (11:37 pm)

I hope you leave a note with your credit card info to cover the cost of repair.
- PE May 22, 2017 (7:49 am)
  
  No they would pay for the damage.

unknown May 22, 2017 (4:44 am)

@PE I’d do the same thing but then I hope you stick around in case the pet decides to take off from being in distress.

T Rex May 22, 2017 (8:10 am)

I have pre-written notes in my glove box with the a message stating the above. I see it all the time and I wonder if these people live in a cave or they just don’t care. Mine are not rude but to the point. I also suggest if they doubt my facts they should just Google “dog in hot car”.

I will say that if I saw a dog that was distressed in a hot car, I would make an attempt to locate the owner but I would not spend a lot of time. Yes, your window get broken. You wouldn’t leave your child in a hot car would you? Then why in the hell would you leave your dog?
AND it does not matter if you windows are tinted either!

PE May 22, 2017 (9:00 am)

I’m sure the good Samaritan law would shield us from responsibility. Just to make sure the pet would be OK I would break more than one window.
Matt May 22, 2017 (9:09 am)

Seriously, “but my windows are tinted”, I’ve never heard that one before but it doesn’t surprise me. How did we get to a place where people lack so much common sense?

And googling something, what’s that? I only use the internet for Facebook.

Bee May 22, 2017 (9:07 am)

It’s so disappointing to me that pet owners are still leaving pets in hot cars. Isn’t this a universally known fact by now?!

Just a note: Window-smashing-vigilantes, please ensure you listen to hear if the car is running, and look at the AC indicator before you smash someone’s window. My car has remote start and if I ever have to run in for snacks or a drink and I have my dog, I remote start my car with the air blasting and she is a-okay for those 5 minutes. My car is really quiet and the few times I’ve had to do this I’ve been so worried someone is going to smash my window without realizing the car is on and very cool inside. I don’t care about the window, but my dog would absolutely freak out and try to run if someone smashed the window.

Smash away if dog is truly in distress, but check first!

seaopgal May 22, 2017 (10:37 am)

Washington State law protects law & animal enforcement officers from liability, but NOT private citizens. At least TRY calling 911 first. The responding officer can also cite the owner.
https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=16.52.340

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