Summer Means Leave Your Pet at Home -- Not in the Vehicle.

Leaving your pet in a car on a summer's day -- even parked in the shade and even with windows cracked -- can be deadly. A study conducted by the Animal Protection Institute revealed that a vehicle with windows closed, reaches a temperature of 109 degrees in 30 minutes, when the outdoor temperature is a comfortable 82 degrees. Even with 4 windows cracked open, an outdoor temperature of 90 degrees reaches 108 degrees in 30 minutes. A dog whose body temperature rises to 107 to 108 degrees will suffer irreparable brain damage or even death.

Leaving a pet in a truck bed is no better. In addition to the animal jumping out, or falling out and being hung by a tether, are the risk of theft, sunstroke, and burns to the feet from the hot truck bed.

Dogs don't sweat. They cool themselves by panting and through the pads of their feet. Imagine your pet inhaling the super-heated air and standing on hot car upholstry, or under the blazing sun on a hot truck bed. If you love your dog, leave your dog at home.

If you see that a pet left in a car is in imminent danger, immediately tell the store manager to page the owner. Tell the store manager the color and make of the vehicle and the license plate number. If the store manager can't help, call the police.

The United Animal Nation has created a windshield flyer. Go to www.mydogiscool.com to download the file and print copies. Keep the copies in your car. When you see a pet left in a car, slip a flyer under the wiper of the vehicle. It is a good reminder for people who love their pets.