Dogs at risk in cars

Thanks Spokesman-Review for the very timely July 1 article, “Hot Dogs - Hot Cars.”

Perhaps my experience will convince any doubters that pets should not be left in any car alone just as children should not.

Years ago, I left my two grown house pet dogs in my car “for just a few minutes” on a warm day. When I returned to the car after “just a few minutes”, the dogs appeared to have been okay. However, clearly, this was not true as they had vomited and there was diarrhea all over the back seat area of the car.

My pets survived, but clearly they suffered, and I also suffered cleaning up the car.

When we leave our dogs outside in a car to go into, most likely, an air-conditioned building, we do not see our dogs frantically barking and jumping on the car windows; or whimpering continuously as the heat steadily rises in the hot car.

Even dogs who appear to have been okay when we return to the car have been traumatized. Our pets do not perspire the way we do. Their lungs must have cool air. I say “Never again!”

Mary Ellen Kelly Haker

Spokane