According to Sacramento County ordinances, keeping dogs in hot cars or unsafe conditions is not permitted. In 80° weather, your parked car becomes a 120° oven within 20 minutes - EVEN WITH THE WINDOWS SLIGHTLY OPEN. Your dog can bake to death, dying of suffocation because he cannot “pant” fast enough to keep cool. For this reason, you should leave your dogs at home in the summer.

PREVENTATIVE MEASURES FOR CANINE HEAT STRESS
1. Never leave a dog in a closed automobile, unventilated garage or other enclosure in hot weather, for ANY length of time.
2. Provide shade cover outdoors.
3. Avoid excessive exercise of dogs during extremely hot weather.
4. Keep plenty of fresh drinking water available at all times.

CANINE HEAT STRESS TREATMENT
High fever must be reduced rapidly to save the dog’s life and prevent permanent brain damage. Body temperature of 106° and above can be tolerated for only a few minutes before irreversible damage occurs. If heatstroke occurs:
1. Gradually immerse the dog in cool water if possible
2. Or, spray it with cold water from garden hose
3. Apply ice packs to head and neck.
Above all, treat the dog promptly and take it to a veterinarian as soon as possible. Heat stroke, heat exhaustion and heat cramps must be treated by a veterinarian.

Ordinance 8.08.051 “No person shall leave an animal, wild or domestic, in any unattended motorized vehicle without adequate ventilation, in unhealthful conditions, or otherwise under such circumstances as to allow the animal to be subjected to extreme temperatures or other conditions which adversely affect its health, safety, or well-being.”

County of Sacramento Animal Control and Regulation 4290 Bradshaw Road Sacramento, CA 95827
(916) 366-2632 www.saccountyshelter.net

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