BOISE, Idaho — As temperatures rise, so do calls to animal control to rescue pets trapped in hot cars.
On Monday, Animal Care and Control officers from the Idaho Humane Society rescued a senior dog from inside a 107 degree car.
"Unfortunately we always see a lot of calls like this," Idaho Humane Society Communications Director Kristine Schellhaas said. "For our officers, it's priority one call. Our officers are always running out looking for animals locked in hot cars. Thankfully, we can rely upon the public to keep an eye out for us."
When it's hot outside, the inside of a car can turn into an oven, with temperatures soaring in a matter of minutes, which could kill a pet.
In the City of Boise, you are allowed to break a window to save a pet if you first call 911 and alert them the animal is in distress. After breaking the window, stay with the animal until officers or animal control officials arrive.
To make sure your four-legged friend is safe under the sun, be aware of the several signs of heat exhaustion.
"The first thing a pet is going to do is start that heavy panting, you might start to see some foam in the corners of their mouth," Schellhaas said. "Lethargy is something that sets in really quickly when they get really hot."
The Idaho Humane Society said, to cool a dog down to start with their paws. They don't recommend ice, instead use cold towels on their back paws and give them plenty of water.
The pavement could also pose a problem for paws.
"If it's too hot for the back of your hand, it's too hot for your pet," Schellhaas said. "So you can either don shoes on your pet - which most pets honestly don't love. So we recommend cooler walks in the morning or late in the evening, or even some water playtime."
If you see a dog trapped in a hot car, call 911 or Animal Care and Control at 208-343-3166. Animal Care and Control will come and retrieve the animal.
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