Local resident spearheads effort to place signs in municipal parking lots
BRATTLEBORO, VT (May 7, 2013) – Brattleboro, Vermont, has become a national leader in raising awareness about the dangers of leaving dogs in hot cars by posting signs last week warning drivers about the danger that hot cars pose.
The signs were posted last week after an effort by resident Barry Adams that has spanned years. In October 2012, the Town of Brattleboro Transportation Committee approved Adams’ proposal to have signs posted in municipal parking lots including the Brattleboro Transportation Center, the Harmony parking lot, and the Preston, Harris, and High-Grove parking lots. The signs, funded by an anonymous donation to the Town of Brattleboro, contain a simple message to remind pet owners that heat in enclosed vehicles kills pets. Adams had worked with town officials since 2007 to develop the plan, and received strong letters of support from several national and local animal groups including RedRover, Vermont Veterinary Medical Association, Windham County Humane Society and Vermont Animal Cruelty Task Force. Previously, in the Spring of 2011, the Town of Brattleboro also began including warnings of the dangers of leaving dogs in hot cars on all dog license applications and all dog license renewal forms.
Very few communities in the United States display such permanent signs in public places or include the information in dog licensing forms, though law enforcement agencies frequently encounter preventable heat-related tragedies involving pets and hot vehicles.
In addition to spearheading the effort to place the signs, Adams has planned a community awareness event as part of his role as a volunteer with RedRover’s national My Dog Is Cool campaign. Adams and his partner, Kevin Maloney, former Chair of the Brattleboro Planning Commission, who will dress up in puppy costumes and hold umbrellas, will talk with families on May 25 and provide informational summer pet safety fliers, posters and giveaways at a parking lot where dogs have previously been found in hot cars.
“Each year, authorities are called to respond to emergencies involving pets left in hot cars. By posting signs and engaging the community we hope to reduce these incidents,” said Adams. “Leaving a dog in the car while running errands can literally be a death sentence. As the heat inside a car quickly rises, dogs suffer irreversible organ damage and eventually death. Brattleboro residents and visitors need to be reminded that the safe choice is to leave your dog in a cool house.”
EVENT INFORMATION:
Saturday, May 25
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Harmony Parking Lot
Already in 2013, several cases of dogs being left behind in hot cars have made the headlines. In April, a Virginia woman was charged with two felony counts of animal cruelty when her two dogs perished in a hot car while she shopped at a Walmart for about an hour, despite parking in a shaded area and leaving the windows cracked. A Massachusetts student was charged with cruelty to animals after he left his golden retriever in a car at Cape Cod Community College. Despite temperatures in the 70s outside, the temperature in the car was a sweltering 106, and the dog was showing signs of heat distress.
Five reasons why leaving a dog in a car on a warm day can be deadly:
Upon seeing a dog in distress in a hot car in Brattleboro, call the Brattleboro Animal Control immediately at 802.257.7946.
This event is part of RedRover’s national My Dog Is Cool campaign. To learn more about the dangers of leaving dogs in hot cars, visit MyDogIsCool.com.
RedRover focuses on bringing animals out of crisis and strengthening the bond between people and animals through a variety of programs, including emergency sheltering, disaster relief services, financial assistance and education. RedRover’s My Dog Is Cool campaign is designed to get the word out to individuals and communities about the dangers of leaving dogs in hot cars through fliers, posters, and other educational materials as well as educate the media, general public, police, emergency workers and city officials about steps to take to prevent dogs from dying in hot cars.
MEDIA CONTACT:
BARRY ADAMS, VOLUNTEER: 802.254.5571 or bakmboston@aol.com.
For information about RedRover, the national organization supporting this and 30 other My Dog Is Cool Action Day events nationwide this Spring, contact Leili Khalessi at 916.429.2457 or lkhalessi@redrover.org.