Car Running with Air on is Still NOT Safe

Keep the car cool!

We’ve heard it a million times before: “Don’t leave your dog locked in a hot car!”.  We know that advice is solid, yet every year dogs lose their lives by suffocating in a car that got too hot.  

I’ve heard of people leaving dogs in a locked, running car with the air conditioning on.  I just came upon a Facebook post where a well-meaning owner had done this with a sign that asked other well-meaning people to Not smash the window of the car, the dog is fine, the air is on and thanks!  This scenario has never really sat well with me.  I guess with good reason.

Ready for work!

I recently read about a situation where a police dog in California lost his life.  The K-9 officer left the car running with the windows up and air conditioning on. Sadly, the air conditioning failed and the dog suffocated.  How tragic.  What a terrible loss to everyone, especially the handler and the entire community that this wonderful dog helped to protect.  It could’ve been avoided.

My awesome dog, Ronan, often comes to work with me.  He helps me in ways with certain cases that I cannot duplicate without him. Every day I have to decide whether it is safe to bring him.  As much as I love having him with me, I must always put his safety first.   

Ready & waiting!

I cannot tell you the number of times I did NOT run into the store I was passing to grab that one quick thing because Ronan was with me and the weather was warmer than my comfort level.  Keep in mind, I’m always basically prepared by checking the weather, getting new batteries for his crate fan, fresh ice block for his crate fan, making sure he has fresh water, opening windows and sunroof (sometimes even the back hatch in someone’s driveway), using various sun-blockers, and parking in the shade.  Sometimes I even put a frozen plastic seltzer water bottle in his crate for Ronan to lay next to if he wants.

Things sometimes happen, and trusted machinery sometimes fails. Don’t risk your dog’s life.  When in doubt, leave your dog home!

Keep them safe 365 days a year!  They’re too important not too!

Stacie & Ronan