How Hot Does it Get in a Parked Car

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Every year, dogs suffer and die when their guardians make the mistake of leaving them in a parked car—even for “just a minute”—while they run an errand. Parked cars are deathtraps for dogs: On a 78-degree day, the temperature inside a parked car can soar to between 100 and 120 degrees in just minutes, and on a 90-degree day, the interior temperature can reach as high as 160 degrees in less than 10 minutes.



Leaving your dog in a parked car in warm weather (even with the windows open slightly) can cause heatstroke within minutes! Even when a car is parked in the shade, that does not assure that your dog will not become overheated! Shaded cars may still get very hot due to the greenhouse effect, and the sun may also move enough to change shaded areas into sunny ones. Dogs left in parked cars also risk being harassed or stolen.

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