A German Shepherd’s double coat puts it at risk of overheating quicker than some other breeds
Photo: Pete Bellis
According to PETA, the temperature inside a parked car on a 78-degree day can reach up to 120 degrees in only a matter of minutes, which is the reason Jennifer Beals has been getting so much negative attention recently for leaving her German Shepherd inside her Ford Escape.
The 51-year-old actress said she did not intentionally put her pet in danger and that she cracked every window in her car before she ran into a building for five minutes to pick up laundry.
Pedestrians outside of the store noticed the German Shepherd and confronted Beals as she returned to the vehicle. One man said he took pictures and was going to report her to authorities. Beals replied that “In Dunbar, (Canada) it’s fine” to leave dogs inside vehicles. Beals originally thought the people standing by her car were looking at the dog because of how cute it is.
“I have loved dogs my whole life,” Beals told Us Weekly. “They’ve been in my life since the day I was born. Every dog I’ve had has been a rescue. I would never jeopardize an animal’s safety. Ever.”
Just in case you forgot what Jennifer Beals looked like (Not Jessica Biel)
Photo: Danny Batalla
PETA released a video earlier this year featuring NFL player Tyrann Mathieu to bring attention to how quickly pets can overheat inside parked vehicles. Mathieu could only tolerate eight minutes inside the 120-degree vehicle before he became drenched with sweat and had to abandon the stunt.
What makes this situation even more dangerous for dogs is they only have sweat glands in their paws and have to rely mostly on panting to cool themselves. A dog’s internal organs can overheat and begin to shut down at only 105 degrees.
PETA suggest calling police or humane authorities if you see a dog left alone in a parked car on a hot day.
Via: Us Weekly
The News Wheel is a digital auto magazine providing readers with a fresh perspective on the latest car news. We’re located in the heart of America (Dayton, Ohio) and our goal is to deliver an entertaining and informative perspective on what’s trending in the automotive world. See more articles from The News Wheel.