Police warn: Dogs in hot cars – this is how you react correctly!

Police warn: Dogs in hot cars – this is how you react correctly!

Today several police operations on the beautiful island of Rügen caused a stir. Witnesses reported two incidents of dogs being left in overheated cars. The first emergency call came in at 2:30 p.m.: a dog was sitting in a vehicle parked in the blazing sun for more than ten minutes. Luckily, the owner returned shortly afterwards and the dog was fine. But just an hour later, at 3:30 p.m., there was the next alarm: Another dog was discovered in a car in tropical conditions. Here too, the owner arrived quickly and the dog was fine. The police in the Neubrandenburg area have received an increasing number of similar reports in the last week and are urgently drawing attention to the dangers.

Danger to life due to the heat of the sun

Summer temperatures bring not only joy but also serious dangers. A look at the facts from the TASSO shows that at temperatures as low as 20 degrees Celsius, the interior of a vehicle can become dangerously hot in a very short space of time. Such incidents are dramatic every year: in 2022, at least 72 dogs had to be rescued from overheated cars, five of which did not survive. There have already been several rescue operations this year, but the number of unreported cases could be much higher. Dogs cannot sweat like humans; They pant to cool themselves and risk heat stroke.

Experts strongly advise against leaving dogs in the car for even a short period of time - even with the windows open or without direct sunlight. In an emergency, the owners should be located immediately or the police and fire department should be contacted.

Rescue measures in an emergency

Should a dog still find itself in acute danger, there are various courses of action that can be taken by the VETO be presented. First, you should always find the dog's owner. If this cannot be found and the dog shows signs of acute distress such as heavy panting or apathy, the car window may also be broken to free the animal. However, care is required here: it is advisable to ensure that this is actually necessary in order to prevent legal consequences.

Well-intentioned advice: In such emergencies, you should always call in witnesses and ask them to confirm that the rescue was carried out. Images or videos can serve as important evidence in the event of legal disputes.

The police strongly warn that children and animals should never be left in vehicles when temperatures are high. A cool environment is vital for our four-legged friends. Therefore, it is better to leave the dog in the shade or even at home rather than exposing it to unnecessary risk. Always remember – the heat can become a serious threat in an instant!