The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports nearly 40 children die yearly in hot cars. For pets, the numbers are higher.
ENCINITAS, Calif. — As heat alerts continue across the region, local authorities are emphasizing the dangers of leaving children and pets alone in cars.
John Van Zante, with Rancho Coastal Humane Society, reiterated this warning, stating, “And every year somebody says, ‘Oh, you don’t have to do that again. Everybody knows not to leave their pet or their baby in the car, and every year, within a week after we do the demonstration, there’s a new story about a person or pet who didn’t make it. So yeah, we do need to be reminded.’”
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Van Zante’s comments came after a demonstration that highlighted how quickly car temperatures can rise. Initially, the temperature inside a parked car read 88 degrees, but within two minutes it soared to 124 degrees.
“I think what surprises most people is how hot it gets and how fast it happens,” Van Zante noted. At the four-minute mark, the temperature peaked at an alarming 131 degrees.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that nearly 40 children perish yearly from heat-related incidents in vehicles, while animal welfare organization PETA has recorded 59 heat-related deaths among dogs this year alone. Meanwhile, San Diego Humane Law Enforcement received 598 calls between July 2025 and June of this year about dogs left in hot cars.
In the event of witnessing a pet in distress in a parked vehicle, authorities advise first checking for signs such as excessive panting and lethargy. If the owner cannot be located, contacting law enforcement is crucial. California’s “right to rescue” law allows individuals to act if a dog is in imminent danger, although officers recommend looking for an unlocked door before breaking a window.
Van Zante expressed concern regarding the misconception that cracking a window can cool a car’s interior.
“We’ve done that. The demonstration that I did earlier this week, we left the window open this far. We hit 144 degrees instead of hitting 148 degrees. It doesn’t make a difference,” he explained.
As temperatures persist, it’s vital to keep pets and children safe during the sweltering heat.