Toledo Ohio Mayor Does Public Service Ad

Last month, Toledo, Ohio Mayor Carty Finkbeiner was caught on camera illegally parked in a handicapped parking spot . His dog Scout was inside the parked car, in 90 degree temperatures, for 45 minutes, while the mayor went to his appointment for massage therapy. He says he parked the car in the handicapped parking spot because it was in the shade for the dog and there were other handicapped spots empty. He received a ticket for parking illegally but the heat was still on him.

Yes, it was illegal for him to park in the handicapped parking spot. He did receive a $100 ticket for parking there. Then the story shifted to the Humane Society who was investigating the story because he left his pet inside a parked car in the heat. They set up a PSA (public service announcement) showing Mayor Finkbeiner, and his dog Scout, explaining about the dangers of leaving pets inside cars in the heat. At the end of the video ad , Mayor Finkbeiner says to his dog Scout,” ..the next hot day ..you are staying home”.

Here are some facts I discovered about the danger to animals left in heated cars while searching on line:

Even when the weather is not particularly hot, dogs can suffer from heatstroke as up to 90 per cent of their body is covered in hair.

The problem could lead to hundreds of dog deaths if temperatures become unusually hot, with temperatures able to reach dangerous levels within ten minutes if the car is left in direct sunlight.

Dogs cannot lose their body heat as efficiently as humans. If the surrounding air temperature is hot then it’s only a matter of minutes before they can overheat and die.

When it’s 85 degrees out, the temperature inside a car — even with the windows left slightly open — can reach 102 degrees in 10 minutes and 120 degrees in half an hour.

Leaving a dog in a heated car can cause brain damage or even death.

By 110�º your dog will have a heatstroke! On hot and humid days, the temperature in a car parked in direct sunlight can rise more than 30 degrees per minute and become lethal in just a few minutes.

Short nosed breeds such as pugs and bulldogs, who can’t pant as efficiently as other dogs, young puppies, senior dogs, over-weight dogs, and dogs with respiratory, cardiovascular or other health problems are even more susceptible to heat related stress than other dogs.

Know the signs of heatstroke …..
Heavy panting is the first sign followed by huffing and puffing – a staring expression – warm, dry skin – failure to respond to hearing his name – rapid heartbeat – profuse salivation – vomiting or collapse. If left untreated the dog will become unconscious and die.

Dogs only have sweat glands on the pads of their feet and on their nose, which are inadequate for cooling during hot and humid days.