New Zealand Police share temperature warning to owners who leave their dogs unattended in cars

Every year, dogs suffer and die when their owners make the mistake of leaving them in a parked car - even for "just a minute" - while they run an errand.

We all know that you can't leave a pet in a hot car, yet people still do it.

So this summer, the New Zealand Police have shared warning which tells owners how temperatures can rise to dangerous levels in just minutes.

Alongside an image of a dog inside a car, the police warned: "On a warm day, the inside of your car heats up very quickly. On a 30°C day, the temperature inside your car can reach 39°C in less than 5 minutes and in 30 minutes it goes up to 49°C.

"This occurs even in the shade and if your windows are open.

"A normal dog’s body temperature is around 38.5°C. Dogs only sweat a small amount through their paws and rely on panting to cool down.

"In a hot car, even with the windows slightly open, panting is not enough to keep a dog’s body temperature within a safe range.

"A dog can withstand a body temperature of 41°C for a short amount of time but will quickly suffer irreparable brain damage and then death.

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"Young, overweight or elderly animals, or those with short muzzles or thick, dark-coloured coats are most at risk of overheating.

"Please don't leave your dog unattended in a car at any time of the day. If the purpose of your trip is not to take your dog somewhere, please leave your dog at home."

Remember people who leave distressed dogs to overheat in cars or do not provide them with adequate dry and shaded shelter face a $300 fine.

And if you find a dog locked in a car in distress, please call the Police or your local SPCA immediately.