During 2013 the South Burlington Police Department responded to hundreds of complaints of dogs being left in vehicles. Many of the calls involved dogs found in distress due to excessive heat inside the vehicle. In two cases police officers smashed windows to rescue dogs who may otherwise have died. Vermont law allows a police officer or animal control officer to smash a vehicle window to aid an animal in distress. The new South Burlington Animal Control Officer (ACO), JoAnn Nichols, will hold a public awareness event in the parking lot of the University Mall on Wednesday, May 28, 2014 from 3:00PM to 6:30PM. (Look for the dog costume to find the display) It is hoped that providing awareness will assist in keeping dogs safe. Volunteers from the Humane Society of Chittenden County will be on hand to help spread the word about the dangers of leaving your dog in the car, even when it does not appear that hot outside. A vehicle equipped with a thermometer will be displayed to show how quickly conditions in a car can become deadly for your K9 companion. Literature on the safe care of animals will be available for distribution, as will animal care experts for additional information. Five reasons why leaving a dog in a car on a warm day can be deadly: 1. Dogs are especially vulnerable to heat-related illness because they can only cool off by panting and through the pads in their feet. 2. Even seemingly mild days are dangerous. In a Stanford University study, when it was 72 degrees outside, a car’s internal temperature climbed to 116 degrees within one hour, with most of the rise happening in the first 15 to 30 minutes. 3. Enclosed cars heat up quickly. In a study by San Francisco State University, when it was 80 degrees outside, the temperature inside a car rose to 99 degrees in 10 minutes and 109 degrees in 20 minutes. 4. A dog’s normal body temperature is between 101 to 102.5 degrees; a dog can only withstand a high body temperature for a short time before suffering irreversible nerve damage, heart problems, liver damage, brain damage or even death. 5. Studies show that cracking the windows has little effect on a vehicle’s internal temperature. Upon seeing a dog in distress in a hot car in South Burlington, call the South Burlington Police Department at 802-846-4111. The animal control officer or a police officer will be dispatched to assure the dog’s safety. If conditions are dangerous the dog will be rescued and the person responsible may be issued a ticket with the possibility of a fine up to $500.00 for a first violation or arrested for a misdemeanor if a subsequent violation. The Police Department thanks the University Mall for working with our ACO to keep dogs safe. When in doubt, please leave your dog in the safety of your home.
Posted on: Tue, 27 May 2014 09:23:04 +0000
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