Never Leave Your Dog in the Car

As temperatures rise, it’s important to remember how quickly a parked car can become dangerously hot, even on a mild day where the windows are left open.

So, even a short errand can become a serious risk. Dogs can overheat quickly and may suffer long before help arrives. So don't take the chance. If you can't bring your dog with you, it is safest to leave them at home.

The temperature inside a car can rise very quickly, especially on a hot summer day: Within the first 10 minutes, the temperature can increase by about 3°C, and after 30 minutes, it can rise by more than 10°C. On a hot summer day, the temperature inside a parked car can reach up to 60°C. That’s why it is extremely dangerous to leave children or animals in a parked car, even with the windows open.

Rapid temperature rise: Even if windows are open and the car is parked in the shadow, the temperature can still rise quickly because cars act as heat conductors, and heat builds up fast.

Risk to Dogs: Dogs are especially vulnerable to heat, as their bodies generate more heat relative to their size, and their ability to sweat is not fully developed. Dogs are not able to escape the car, since they can't open the doors.

Extreme heat: On a hot day, a car can reach temperatures as high as 60°C or more in just a few minutes if parked in the sun.

Danger of leaving them behind: It is dangerous to leave Dogs in a parked car, even for a short period of time.

If you see a dog left in a hot car, it’s important to act quickly:

Find the owner: Start by trying to locate the owner, for example by asking nearby shops to make an announcement first. Remember to note the cars make, model and license plate. If that does not bring any result call the police's emergency number.

Call the police: If you believe the child or dog is in life-threatening danger, you should call the police's emergency number immediately. The emergency number in Europe is 112. The European emergency number 112 you can dial free of charge from fixed and mobile phones everywhere in the EU. It will get you straight through to the emergency services – police, ambulance, fire brigade.

Assess the situation: Danish law allows for necessary actions to prevent harm. If a dog or child is clearly in danger, breaking the window may be justified under the circumstances, but it's always advised to call the emergency number 112 first.

Help cool them down: Make sure the dog gets cool (not ice-cold) water and is moved to a shaded area until help arrives.

Seek veterinary help: If the dog shows signs of heatstroke or distress, take it to a vet as soon as possible.

It may not be illegal to leave a dog in a car in every case, but if the animal is put at risk of harm, even unintentionally, you can face legal consequences in most European countries.

So if you can't bring your dog with you on your errand, let your dog stay at home with access to a big bowl of water. Because their wellbeing comes first.