A pet owner can potentially spend up to one year in jail and pay a $4,000 fine for leaving a pet in a parked vehicle for a long period of time without the windows rolled down. However, studies have shown that cracking the windows does virtually nothing to how hot a car will get. At 107 degrees, a dog can suffer from brain damage and can die at 120 degrees. According to Examiner, on a 100 degree day, it takes just ten minutes for a car to reach 120 degrees even with the widows cracked. That means a dog can suffer from brain damage and potentially die in the amount of time it takes to pick up a few groceries from the store. Dogs are only capable of cooling themselves off through panting and sweating through their paw pads. That does very little when the temperatures have reached 120 degrees in a parked car. If you know you are going to be running errands, leave your dog at home.
In order to make a change in the state of Texas, State legislature needs to pass stricter laws on the abuse and neglect towards animals and a heftier fine/jail time. There is no excuse to leaving a helpless pet in a hot car especially in a state that gets so unbearably hot. If you see a dog in a parked vehicle, immediately call 911 or animal control. A dog's life may depend on it.
I am not an animal person, but I do have an enormous amount of respect for any living organism. All living creatures should never have to be exposed to any form of cruelty, and unfortunately we read in Aaron Bonnette’s blog “You may all go to Hell, and I will go to Texas.” he posts how this is not always the case in his titled work “Pets in Parked Cars.” Texas Pet owners need to recognize their full roles of responsibilities for what it means to care for helpless and defenseless animals; and they should definitely be held accountable if they are inconsiderate by leaving them in a parked vehicle.
ReplyDeleteI was not aware of how quickly the amount of time it takes for the inside of a car to drastically increase in temperature to 120 degrees, and blogger Aaron Bonnette cites an article from Examiner.com in order to effectively paint the potential tragic outcome of death that an animal can face if left in this type of situation. I too agree with Bonnette that Texas needs to enforce harsher laws towards pet owners that negligently leave their pets in a parked car.
The Austin American-Statesman just recently updated their July 9, 2013 article “Round Rock police identify woman whose dog died in hot car” about a 24 year old woman from San Antonio who killed her dog because she left it in her parked vehicle in Round Rock. According to the update on the article, Round Rock police dismissed the charge and she only paid a fine in connection with the city ordinance that was violated. The collie mix was left in her car for two hours with the widows closed, and the temperature reaching 140 degrees. Instead of just slapping them with a measly fine, Texas law should make it so that a careless pet owner endures and experiences the same struggle as their powerless animal.
I think Aaron Bonnette brings up a highly under publicized topic about animal cruelty - people leaving their dogs in parked cars in our taxing Texas heat. Awareness needs to be spread about just how little time it takes for a car to heat up to tremendous temperatures that are usually fatal for dogs. As Aaron points out, dogs can do very little to cool themselves since their bodies do not sweat, and cracking a window for your pup does almost nothing to keep the temperature in your car down. Death by heat exhaustion is horrible and no creature should have to suffer it. Don't leave your dog in the car, even "for just a minute."
ReplyDeleteI think Aaron did a great job with this article, giving us some background knowledge on the current punishments for this form of animal abuse and what the effects of high temperatures can have on a dog. He also cites Examiner for a few quick facts on the speed of which car temperatures can rise. He seems to have done his research and his article was well written.
Although I agree with Aaron that Texas needs stricter punishments for leaving an animal in a hot car, I think that we need to raise more awareness about this issue. Most people who see a dog in a car will just walk on by, which I can assume is only because they do not know how dangerous it is for the animal. Perhaps if people knew the amount of suffering the dog was going through, or that it's life was on the line, they would be more likely to call police.
I've recently read Aaron Bonnette's post on "Pets in Parked Cars" and I couldn't help but agree with Aaron's post on today's issue with pets in parked cars. Leaving pets in parked cars on a hot summer day, especially in Texas, can be extremely harmful to pets. I agree with Aaron when he proposed that Texas should create much tighter restrictions and higher punishments because this is very cruel to animals. Aaron has also pointed out that dogs can only cool themselves through panting and sweating, but that isn't enough in a 120 degree weather. As a dog owner, I believe that this is one of the most cruel and careless way in neglecting your pets. Pets are loyal companions that don't ever deserve this type of torture and I believe that Aaron did a great job in providing facts.
ReplyDeleteI believe that creating tighter restrictions and higher punishments for leaving your pets in parked cars should be implemented to create a higher awareness to pet owners. I believe that these are one of the only solutions to remind pet owners to never leave their pets in parked cars. Also, I believe that big stores/buildings should hire someone to roam around parking lots and check to see if any pets are in parked cars. I believe that allowing this would prevent pets from dying of heat stroke.
I completely agree with Aaron Bonnette's stance on leaving pets in cars. Texas is know for its insane heat and dry climate so what goes through people's minds when they think it would be okay to leave their dog in the car for any amount of time? We all know dogs are incredibly loyal and attached to their owners. So being in such a small, confined space with no way out, watching their beloved owner walk away without any idea of whether or not they will return, must be pretty nerve racking in the first place. Add on the intense heat and stress that might cause, it's no wonder the dog looses the battle. Our government needs to have stricter laws when it comes to this kind of animal abuse. Whether the owner believes it or not, or whether they agree with it or not, this IS A FORM OF ABUSE and it should not be tolerated or taken lightly. Suffering from brain damage, heat exhaustion, stress, and suffocation does not sound like a fair or pleasant way to go. So, if an owner is found guilty of putting their dogs through it until they died, their punishment should not be light or pleasant either.
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