The same sad topic comes up every year: as soon as the temperature exceeds 15 degrees, dogs locked in parked cars run the risk of suffering a fatal heat stroke. The Susy Utzinger Foundation for Animal Welfare (SUST) draws attention to the problem – and everyone can help.

It is true that many cars already have reliable parking air conditioning with “remote monitoring” via an app. But the danger remains as owners under-estimate the time they will be gone from the car or the temperature. At a mild 15 degrees outside temperature, the interior of a car parked in the sun heats up to 50 degrees or more. And cars that have been parked in the shade can easily be caught by the sun after a while and become a death trap for the dog inside. A window ajar does not cool the dog down at all and within a very short time, the four-legged friend could suffer a heat stroke, which unfortunately often ends fatally.

Everyone can help save lives
In an acute case, everyone can act – because anyone who leaves their animal alone in the car in the sun is liable to prosecution for cruelty to animals in Switzerland. “Dogs in such a life-threatening situation are dependent on the help of courageous passers-by. Report any such observation to the police immediately. Worst case in an emergency, it could be necessary and justified to break the window or break open the door. But by doing so, you will prevent the agonising death of an animal,” said Susy Utzinger.

BASED ON AVS/PD

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