Well, this time it’s a real victory for the SPCA. We are continually warning pet owners not to leave their animals shut in vehicles because the temperature inside a closed vehicle rapidly becomes excessive, and animals can easily die. People simply don’t realise how quickly the temperature can rise inside a car, even when the outside temperature might not seem particularly high and the windows are left slightly open.
   An outside temperature of 27°C can rise within 10 minutes to 38°C and by the time it rises to 44°C your dog will be suffering from heatstroke. Heat increases at just over 1° per minute inside a closed vehicle.

A Kennel Club website warns that temperatures inside a closed car that is parked in the sun have been known to reach 70°C on a really hot day. It is hard to imagine the torture of being trapped in such a furnace. The site points out that a dog’s coat is designed to retain heat, and the animal cannot sweat as humans do when he is overheated. As the temperature inside a car mounts, so the dog’s body temperature mounts, and he might just have minutes to live.

Particularly at risk are short-nosed breeds like pugs, bulldogs and even boxers, because they can’t pant as efficiently as the longer-nosed breeds, puppies, old dogs and overweight dogs. Dogs with cardiovascular or respiratory problems are particularly at risk. It is essential to keep them cool on hot days.  
We have had two tragic cases this year of young children dying owing to being left in closed cars, and earlier there were two cases of several children losing their lives when they locked themselves into derelict cars while playing and were unable to release themselves.

Now, in the case of Graeme Heaven, we have someone fined R10,000 and with a suspended six-month sentence because he locked his dogs in his vehicle at the Car Boot Market in First Avenue, Greyville, and went off for a couple of hours.
About 40 witnesses tried to find him. They finally called the SPCA. When the dogs began frothing, car guard Thimothy Mkhosini and security guard Johan Nieuwenhuis forced open the door. One of the dogs fell out. He was bleeding from the mouth and already dead.

Angry witnesses became abusive when Heaven arrived back at his car. He drove away, but was tracked down by the SPCA as one of the witnesses had taken down his car registration number.

Jacqui says that the three big dogs in the car had been locked in for a couple of hours with humidity levels that peaked at around 89%, even though the temperatures that morning were between 23 and 25 degrees, which is not excessive, but the heat inside the vehicle rapidly became unbearably hot and stifling.
The dog that died had suffered from epilepsy and was on medication, but this was not seen as a mitigating factor, since an ill dog is even less able to cope with an ordeal of this nature. The other two dogs recovered.
Jacqui points out that so many people take their dogs shopping with them, or to the beach, and then leave them locked in their cars. She warns that this constitutes animal abuse, and that the SPCA will prosecute in each and every case.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF HEAT STROKE?
Heavy panting is the first sign of heatstroke, and this will be followed by ragged puffing breathing as if the dog is heavily exerted. Eyes will take on a staring look. Skin will heat up and feel dry. The pulse will quicken. The tongue and gums will turn dark red and then go blue and finally purple. There will be heavy salivation, and possibly frothing and vomiting. The dog will not be able to respond to its name. At this stage it is likely to collapse or have seizures. If not treated speedily, it will become unconscious and die.

WHAT MUST BE DONE FOR A DOG WITH HEATSTROKE?
Move the dog immediately to a cool place and give him water. Immerse him in cool (not cold) water or sponge him all over. Put ice packs on his head and neck. Dry him off and, if possible, place a fan in front of him to aid the cooling process. Take him to a veterinarian, but only after you have cooled him off. The cooling off process is imperative.

FURTHER WARNINGS ABOUT THE DANGER OF HEATSTROKE
As should now be well-known, we are against the chaining of dogs. Chaining is cruel and unnatural. Still worse is the chaining of dogs where they cannot reach shade, water or food.

If tieing up is absolutely unavoidable for a short period, choose a shaded area with easy access to water in a spillproof container. Never tie a dog up on a choke or check chain. Use a nylon, fabric or leather collar with a buckle, not a neck chain. Make absolutely certain that the chain cannot hook on anything and is not near a wall or fence so that the dog could attempt to escape by jumping and in this way strangle itself. We have had plenty of instances of this kind of tragic happening .... more reports »