At least 10 dogs had to be rescued from their owners’ hot cars last week, even as the heat index soared to as high as 110 degrees locally.

“Vehicles can heat up very quickly,” said Benson. “On a 95-degree day like we’ve had, in less than 10 minutes, the inside of that vehicle is well over 115 degrees. Thirty minutes in, it can exceed 129 degrees. There is a time and a place to take a dog out for a trip away from home, but when it’s this hot, leaving them in a vehicle, even to run inside to the store quickly, is dangerous for the dog.”

According to Webster County Animal Protection owner Kaila Benson, when animal control receives a call about an animal trapped in a hot vehicle, they do whatever is needed to get that animal out, sometimes even issuing a citation to the owner.

The City of Fort Dodge has a municipal code, 6.10.020, which states that “no person shall leave an animal unattended in, or tethered to, a standing or parked vehicle in excess of 15 minutes when the outdoor temperature is greater than 75-degrees Fahrenheit. The animal control officer, public safety officer, or police officer may use reasonable means to remove an animal from a motor vehicle when there is an apparent violation of this section.”

“The heat gets trapped in a car, even with the windows cracked, and temperatures rise extremely quickly, which puts them at risk for heat-related health issues,” said Benson. “Even a 70-degree day can be dangerous.”

According to Benson, dogs pant to cool down. The water evaporates from their tongue and it cools the body temperature. They also can sweat through their paw pads.

With temperatures remaining high throughout the coming weeks, Benson reminds residents to also watch for overheating.

“If your dog is overheated, move them to a shaded place and offer good airflow,” said Benson. “Offer cool — not cold — water. Ice cold water can throw their body into shock.”