Stop the killing - get a car sticker

14 January 2009

The temperatures continue to soar and still people are leaving their pets in cars, ignoring the fact that this can lead to a slow and painful death for the trapped animal.

Next week the RSPCA will be receiving 2,000 new stickers for its ‘Hot Cars are Murder for Dogs’ campaign (see image above) which replaces the current ‘Dogs Die in Hot Cars’ campaign which has been running for three years.

The new campaign – designed by our brilliant advertising agency 303 – is relying on you to get the message out, so we’re asking everyone who reads this story to get involved.

“It is such an important campaign during these summer months,” said Richard Barry, spokesperson for the RSPCA in WA. “Once we get hold of the stickers, the next job is to ensure they are placed in as many cars as possible to remind people that leaving a dog in a car during the summer can be fatal.”

The temperature in a parked car can quickly rise to over 60º C. Under these conditions a dog locked inside can suffer from heat stress in as little as six minutes, resulting in an agonising death. Even cars parked in the shade on an overcast day can become dangerously hot.

“The more people put these stickers in their cars the stronger the message will be,” said Barry, “so if you want to help us, simply click here, give us your name and email address and we will then tell you where you can pick the stickers up.”

Tips for hot summer months.

• If you see a dog in a hot car and it is unlocked, remove the dog and place it tethered in the shade with water. If necessary leave a note for the owner informing them where the dog may be collected.
• If the dog is suffering from heat stress phone the RSPCA on 9209 9300 or if the RSPCA is unavailable phone the Police on 9222 1111. Only General Inspectors appointed under the Animal Welfare Act and the police are authorised to break into a vehicle to release a dog in distress.
• If the dog is suffering from heat stress and the vehicle is unlocked please remove the dog and place it in a cool area. Sponge its stomach with cool water to rapidly reduce its body temperature. Cover it with damp towels and take it to a vet as quickly as possible. Leave a note on the vehicle to inform the driver of what has occurred and where the dog can be collected from.

How to identify heat stress

• Excessive panting, the tongue of a heat stressed dog usually curls in on itself when panting.
• Excessive salivating, the dog will often appear to be quite wet around the muzzle.
• Reddened gums
• Lying very still, if the dog is also displaying the above symptoms this is a very serious situation and the dog is close to death.

CLICK HERE to find out where you can get a sticker for your car