Local volunteer-led event part of national My Dog Is Cool campaign efforts
Chicago, IL (May 29, 2013) – On Saturday, June 1, volunteers with RedRover, a national nonprofit animal protection organization, will partner with Girl Scout Troop #40417 of Des Plaines to spread the message that dogs should not be left in cars on warm days.
The Girl Scout troop of 11 youths ages 10 to 11 selected RedRover to achieve their Bronze Award, which is the highest award a Junior Girl Scout can achieve, because they believed they could save more animal lives through this initiative than other projects they investigated.
The Girl Scouts and other RedRover volunteers will demonstrate the vast difference between the outside and interior temperatures of a vehicle, talk with families and provide informational summer pet safety fliers, posters and other giveaways.
EVENT INFORMATION:
Saturday, June 1
1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.
Anti-Cruelty Society
510 N. La Salle
Chicago, IL
“Leaving a dog in the car while running errands, dining or visiting a tourist attraction can literally be a death sentence,” said RedRover President and CEO Nicole Forsyth. “As the heat inside a car quickly rises, dogs suffer irreversible organ damage and eventually death. The safe choice is to leave your dog in a cool house.”
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, it is imperative to call the local animal control agency or police immediately.
This event is part of RedRover’s national My Dog Is Cool campaign. This Spring, more than 30 awareness events are taking place throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more about the dangers of leaving dogs in hot cars and to download educational materials to share with others, visit MyDogIsCool.com. Businesses are encouraged to download, print and post free signs available at the website to warn patrons about the dangers of leaving pets in hot cars.
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:
Debbie Ferguson, VOLUNTEER: 847.274.2329 or theosmom23@yahoo.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.
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