Pets and hot cars make dangerous combo

As Puget Sound finally experiences summer, the Federal Way Police Department is reminding pet owners, specifically dog owners, that leaving an animal unattended in a vehicle is especially dangerous to the animals.

August 19, 2011 6:08 pm
The following table shows how quickly temperatures in a closed vehicle can rise on hot days.
The following table shows how quickly temperatures in a closed vehicle can rise on hot days.

From staff reports:

As Puget Sound finally experiences summer, the Federal Way Police Department is reminding pet owners, specifically dog owners, that leaving an animal unattended in a vehicle is especially dangerous to the animals.

According to police, the consistent temperatures above 70 degrees have led to “an increased number of calls related to leaving dogs in vehicles in an unsafe manner. The Federal Way Police Animal Services Unit is imploring pet owners to avoid leaving their pets in hot cars this summer — a practice that can lead to serious illness or death.”

A recently enacted city code allows Federal Way police officers to “enforce this violation as an infraction” with a first offense costing $100. The code also allows officers to enter the vehicle to “remove the animal if necessary, after a reasonable effort to locate the owner of the vehicle.”