Is it okay to leave a dog in the car when running errands? It’s just a few minutes in the store, which shouldn’t hurt them, right? Wrong! Even on a day when the temperature is just 75 degrees, the inside of a car can reach 100 degrees in only 10 minutes. On an 85 degree day, it can reach 120 degrees in 30 minutes.

Pets can’t perspire like humans and are at risk of overheating in a short period of time, which can cause nerve damage, heart problems, liver damage, brain damage or even death. In addition to harming or losing a pet, an individual found guilty of this can be charged with animal cruelty.

Riding with pets in the back of an open pick-up truck or convertible is not an alternative. The sun can warm up the metal surfaces so much that it burns their paws. Plus, unrestrained animals can easily jump from moving vehicles and injure themselves. It is against the law (a Class 4 misdemeanor) to allow any dog to ride in an open truck where the animal could be thrown from, thrown against or jump out of the vehicle.

So, even though a man’s best friend may love to tag along for errands, do them a favor and leave them home. Instead, for an adventure out take them to Fido Field, the city’s dog park located at Riverview Farm Park. Make sure to register them first! More details about Fido Field and a registration form can be found online! Contact Newport News Animal Services if you see any animal left in a closed vehicle at 757-595-7387. And for animals riding unsecured in open trucks or convertibles, contact the Police Department at 757-247-2500.