Following a news report about a 2-year-old child who was left in a hot van at a Walmart in Russellville, PETA issued a warning about safety during hot weather: no one, including children, cats, dogs or any other animals, should ever be left alone in a vehicle, especially on a hot Alabama summer day.

According to PETA, this summer, at least 24 children and 36 dogs have reportedly died after being left in hot vehicles. On a 78-degree day, the temperature inside a parked car can soar to between 100-120 degrees in just minutes, and on a 90-degree day, interior temperatures can reach as high as 160 degrees in less than 10 minutes.

PETA made the following suggestions for safeguarding animals:

• Keep dogs indoors. Unlike humans, dogs can only sweat through their footpads and cool themselves by panting. Soaring temperatures can cause heatstroke, injury or death.
• Supply water and shade. If animals must be left outside, they should be provided with ample water and shade, and the shifting sun needs to be taken into account. Even brief periods of direct exposure to the sun can have life-threatening consequences.
• Walk – don’t run. In very hot, humid weather, never exercise dogs by cycling while they try to keep up or by running them while you jog. Dogs will collapse before giving up, at which point, it may be too late to save them.
• Avoid hot cars. Never leave an animal or a child in a parked car in warm weather, even for short periods with the windows slightly open. Dogs and children trapped inside parked cars can succumb to heatstroke within minutes – even if a car isn’t parked in direct sunlight.
• Never transport animals in the bed of a pickup truck. This practice is dangerous –and illegal in many cities and states – because animals can choke if they jump out while they’re tied up or can catapult out of a truck bed if the driver makes a sudden stop.
• Stay alert and save a life. Keep an eye on all animals you see outdoors. Make sure they have adequate water and shelter. If you see animals in distress, provide them with water for immediate relief and then contact humane authorities right away.
  ·       Use a cooling vest or mat: Dog cooling equipment, such as wearable vests or bed mats, come in a range of materials and prices and help prevent overheating. Simply freeze or soak the items in cold water to keep dogs comfortable while on a walk or lounging. Placing cold water bottles in a dog’s bed also works.

For dogs showing any symptoms of heatstroke – including restlessness, heavy panting, vomiting, lethargy, lack of appetite or loss of coordination – get them into the shade immediately. Lower symptomatic dogs’ body temperature by providing them with water, applying a cold towel to their head and chest or immersing them in tepid (not ice-cold) water. Then immediately call a veterinarian.

For more tips, visit PETA.org.