Safe pet tips from Animal Services.
Summer heat can quickly turn a car into an oven; even overcast, humid days can raise temperatures in vehicles.
Pet owners are advised to leave their furry companions at home.
* Pets are happier and safer in the comfort of their own home on hot, humid days.
* Pets need access to plenty of water, shade, and air circulation to stay cool.
* Confining pets in a hot parked car can lead to dehydration, heatstroke, organ damage, and even death.
Washington’s new animal cruelty law that passed in May 2015:
* Establishes a $125 fine for leaving or confining any animal unattended in a motor vehicle or enclosed space if the animal could be harmed or killed by exposure to excessive heat, cold, lack of ventilation, or lack of necessary water.
* Releases law enforcement and animal control officers from liability for damage to property that results from removing an animal in danger of suffering due to exposure to excessive heat, cold, lack of ventilation, or lack of necessary water.
If you see a dog confined in a hot parked car this summer, call 911 right away. (And remember, only law enforcement agencies and animal control units have the authority to remove animals, even in a life-threatening situation.)