The Heat Inside: A Reminder That Dogs Deserve Better

 

73° outside, nearly 100° inside. He was panting, blinking slow, and waiting for help that never should’ve been needed.

This morning, my daughters and I ran into Ingles to grab a few things. Nothing major, just a quick trip. But as we were leaving, our day shifted.

The car next to us had a dog sitting alone inside.

It was 73 degrees outside. The car wasn’t running. The air conditioner wasn’t on. And every single window was rolled up tight.

Now I don’t know about you, but I’ve read enough, seen enough, and lived long enough to know what that means. With the temperature outside, the temperature inside can climb to over 100 degrees within 10 minutes. Sometimes sooner. And that’s not just uncomfortable—it’s dangerous. Deadly, even.

So we waited.

We watched the clock.

We kept our eyes on the dog.

And in that short 15-minute window, we started to see signs that the heat was already taking a toll.

He began panting, opening his mouth and breathing heavier.

He was restless at first, moving from the seat to the console and back again.

Then he laid down, only to sit back up a few minutes later—his eyes blinking slowly like he was starting to struggle a bit.

We discussed calling the police, but if I’m being honest, I didn’t have much faith in them taking it seriously. Not in my town. I’ve made calls before about being blocked and then run off the road intentionally by a methed out guy and was treated like I was being dramatic or wasting their time. So instead, we made the decision to stay until the owner returned.

Seventeen minutes later, an elderly woman and a young girl—her granddaughter, I assume—came out of the store. I got out of my car, approached gently, and let her know we had been sitting there to make sure her dog didn’t suffer in that heat. I told her how quickly the temperature inside a car can spike, and that it was already nearing 100 degrees in there.

I even pulled up a chart on my phone to show her how quickly heat builds up inside a vehicle—even on a “mild” day like today.

She laughed and kept walking.

Just shrugged and walked off with that smile people give when they don’t take you seriously. Like it was all a joke. Like this dog’s life didn’t matter. Like we were the weird ones for being concerned.

And then I saw it—her seat covers.

At first glance, they were covered in butterflies and flowers. But hidden within the pattern was a skeleton holding up a middle finger with the words:

“Fk around and find out.”

That told me everything I needed to know.

She wasn’t the type of person who cared.

Not about the heat.

Not about the facts.

Not about the life she left sitting in a baking metal box while she grabbed groceries.

And the saddest part? That dog had no voice in the matter. He trusted her. And she let him down.

I’m not writing this to shame her. I’m writing this to raise awareness. Because this isn’t about her—it’s about us.

As people.

As neighbors.

As human beings.

If we can’t show compassion to the animals we claim to love—our companions, our “fur babies,” our family—then what are we even doing?

Leaving your dog in the car “just for a few minutes” is never safe.

It only takes 10 minutes for temperatures to become deadly.

Dogs can’t sweat like we do. They can’t escape the heat.

They suffer in silence. And too often, they die alone—confused, scared, and in pain.

Please, don’t let your errands cost your pet their life.

Bring them with you only if they can go inside with you. (And Ingles allows small dogs inside!)

Otherwise, leave them safely at home with water and AC or fans.

They’ll be much happier—and alive.

And to the woman in the parking lot this morning, if by some chance you’re reading this…

I hope you understand now.

I hope you know better next time.

And I hope that beautiful dog of yours lives long enough to know what it feels like to be protected the way he deserves.

Because every life matters.

Even the ones with four legs and no voice.

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Now let’s talk facts.

This is what happens to the inside of a vehicle on a 73°F day, according to heat safety research:

• After 10 minutes, the inside temperature can reach 90–100°F

• After 30 minutes, it can rise to 110–120°F or more

• After 1 hour, it can exceed 125°F

Even on cooler days, the greenhouse effect traps heat inside a car. Sunlight enters through the windows, gets absorbed by seats and dashboards, and radiates heat back into the air—rapidly turning a closed vehicle into an oven.

🚨 That’s why it is NEVER safe to leave pets, children, or vulnerable adults inside a car—even for just a few minutes.

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What does Georgia law say about this?

Under Georgia Code § 51-1-29.6, you are protected by the law if you break into a vehicle to rescue a pet in distress, provided you:

1. Have a reasonable belief the pet is in imminent danger.

2. Call 911 or law enforcement before entering the vehicle.

3. Use only necessary force to gain entry.

4. Stay with the animal until responders arrive.

Georgia does allow good Samaritans to step in when an animal’s life is at risk. But even better than having to save a pet from a hot car? Don’t put them in danger to begin with.

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Please share this. Please speak up when you see it happen. And please don’t ever assume your quick errand is worth someone’s life.