Imagine being trapped inside a blistering hot car without any water or open windows. If it's anything like NFL player Tyrann Mathieu's experience, you won't even last 10 minutes.
In a new awareness campaign with PETA, the Arizona Cardinals defensive back sees how long he can last in a parked car on a hot 32°C day. The experiment, which is prompting pet owners to be more cautious about leaving pets in cars, is a good reminder of how dangerous it can really be.
Within two minutes in, the 23 year old is sweating and overheating, he says.
"I seriously couldn't imagine leaving my dog in a car like this," he says. "If you're going to make a dog a part of your family, then make him a part of your family. Don't treat him like you wouldn't treat someone you care about."
PETA notes although the temperature may not seem that hot outside your car, the inside tends to get even hotter. And because dogs can't sweat, they have no way to cool themselves inside a overheated vehicle.
Earlier this month, a B.C. veterinarian also sat in a hot car to educate the public on how quickly a car can overheat. Starting at 38°C, the temperature rose up to 65°C after two minutes.
If your dog is suffering from a heatstroke, he or she may experience exaggerated panting, muscle tremors, and sometimes even collapse, go into a coma, or die from overheating, the BC SPCA notes. Leaving the window open isn't acceptable, and if you do see a pet trapped inside a parked car, you should call local authorities.
Watch the video above to see how long Mathieu lasts in his experiment.
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