Watch (or Join) us When we Lock Niki Plasse in a Hot Vehicle Thursday at 2:00
Encinitas, CA – A quick stop at a store on a hot day can be deadly for a dog, child, elderly person, or others with medical issues.
Rancho Coastal Humane Society (RCHS) will demonstrate the danger when we lock Community Outreach Manager Niki Plasse in a closed vehicle on Thursday, July 16th at 2:00 PM at Charlotte’s Medical Center on the shelter’s South Campus at 389 Requeza Street in Encinitas.
RCHS Spokesman Van Zante says, “High temperatures can kill. Common sense can save lives. The temperature in a closed vehicle can rise 30 degrees or more in less than two minutes. In the time it takes to run into a store and buy a loaf of bread, the temperature in your vehicle can become deadly.”
“People know that it gets hot in a closed vehicle,” says Van Zante. “They don’t realize that the temperature rises so high and so fast that it can become deadly for a pet or person.”
Niki will get into the shelter’s station wagon with a digital thermometer.
She will place the thermometer on the dashboard, facing out so media can follow the rapidly rising temperature.
When the temperature inside reaches 110 degrees (in about 2 minutes) Niki will exit the vehicle.
Members of the media may join Niki in the vehicle AT THEIR OWN RISK.
What should you do if you see an overheated dog or person in a hot car?
Call out to see if the owner is near.
Call 9-1-1.
If you’re at a store, ask them to make an announcement.
Get a witness. Shoot video.
Check to see if police are nearby.
Take whatever action you feel is necessary…and you can live with.
California’s “Right to Rescue” law does NOT give you “Right to be dumb.”
Make sure the dog or person is actually in trouble.
Are the doors locked?
Is the air conditioner running?
Do not use excessive force if you can stick your arm inside an open window to unlock a door.
Recognize the symptoms that pets and other family members are overheating.
Dogs don’t sweat. They pant. When they can’t pant fast enough, and when the air temperature is near or more than their body temperature of around 103 degrees, it can cause heat exhaustion.
Take your dog to a cool place and offer it sips (not drinks) of water. Dampen the dog with cool water.
If it’s too late, your dog could suffer heat stroke. Organs will shut down.
Get emergency veterinary care. This can occur up to three days after a dog overheats.
Hot Paws. According to a report on Pet Sit USA.com:
If the air temperature is 94 degrees:
106 – Cement/shade
135 – Cement/sun
146 – Blacktop
If it’s too hot for you to walk barefoot, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws.
Walk when it’s likely to be cooler, early morning or late in the evening
The Heat Danger demonstration and news conference begins at 2:00 PM on Thursday, July 16th at Charlotte’s Medical Center on the Rancho Coastal Humane Society South Campus at 389 Requeza Street in Encinitas.
For more information log on to www.sdpets.org or call 760-753-6413.
About Rancho Coastal Humane Society
Rancho Coastal Humane Society is dedicated to saving lives of abandoned companion animals, promoting adoption into loving homes and offering education programs and support services that inspire and strengthen the human-animal bond. A member of the San Diego Animal Welfare Coalition, RCHS abides by the pledge that NO healthy, treatable animal will ever be euthanized for time or space. Visit SDPets.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.
