RSPCA Victoria
Media Release
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Victoria)
ACN 131 965 761
ABN 56 749 449 191
It’s not cool to leave pets in hot cars.
Tuesday 5 January 2010: Every summer the RSPCA is inundated with calls from
concerned citizens alerting us to animals that have been left or locked in hot cars. With
a spate of hot weather due this week, the RSPCA cannot stress enough that it takes just
six minutes or less for an animal to suffer severe heat exhaustion in a car and die.
Tests conducted by Melbourne’s Metropolitan Ambulance Service on a 29 degree day
with the car’s air conditioning having cooled the interior to a comfortable 20 degrees
showed it took just 10 minutes for the temperature to more than double to 44 degrees.
In a further 10 minutes it had tripled to a deadly 60.2 degrees. As with humans,
exposure to these types of temperatures can be extremely dangerous.
Dr. Chris Thurgood, Chief Veterinarian, RSPCA Victoria said: “Dogs are particularly at
risk as they cool themselves by panting. If the air around them is too hot - particularly
if they don’t have access to water - dogs are physically unable to regulate their body
temperature. In the time it takes to pick up a few things for dinner at the supermarket and
get through the check-out, a dog left in a hot car could have already died an agonising
death.”
RSPCA Victoria also urges pet owners to not leave an animal on the back of a utility without
adequate shade, shelter and water.
“Animals left on ute trays in hot conditions can also quickly suffer from severe dehydration
and heat exhaustion. Added to that, metal trays can get fiercely hot, and cause pain and
suffering for a dog’s paws. If you know that you will most likely be away from your pet while
you are out, it is much better to leave an animal at home where they are comfortable and
have access to water and shade rather than involve them in an outing in your car in the heat
of the day,” Dr. Thurgood added.
Anyone that comes across an animal locked in a hot car should call their local Police
Department or the RSPCA without delay. The RSPCA acknowledges the Victorian Police’s
assistance in helping to rescue heat distressed animals.
For more information, please contact:
Tim Pilgrim
Media Coordinator
RSPCA Victoria
P: 03 9224 2237
E: tpilgrim@rspcavic.org.au
NEWS 
