Recent hot weather is a hazard for our pets, especially when you leave them in  your car.

Even with the windows cracked open, on a 70 degree day the interior temperature can rise by 20 degrees in just 10 minutes. PAWS and More Director Amber Talbot says leaving a dog in a parked car for 10 minutes on a 90 degree day is likely deadly.

If you see a vehicle in a parking lot with a dog left in it unattended, Talbot recommends notifying a store manager to page the owner of the vehicle. If that is taking too much time, then she says to call the local non-emergency number for Washington County’s safety center at 653-2107 for an officer.

Talbot says when the thermometer rises, the best thing to do is to leave your pets at home where it is climate controlled.