A dog left in a car in Cressona Saturday in high heat is alive but the result could have been otherwise had no one called authorities.
"You always expect the worst. Most of the time, you don't get to them in time," Hillside SPCA's Gary Digiuseppe said Monday.
With the hot weather, it is never OK to leave a dog in a hot care for even a few minutes, according to Hillside officials.
"The next couple of days are going to be rather hot and humid," Craig Evanego, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, State College, said Monday.
Today the temperature is projected to reach the low 90s. The heat index will be in the mid 90s, he said.
Wednesday will also be a hot day with temperatures in the 90s, he added.
The NWS website had the temperature at 90 degrees in Pottsville on Monday.
Rescuers have named the dog, a mixed breed, Trooper.
They said it was in a parked car on Second Street in Cressona. State police at Schuylkill Haven received complaints about the dog and they alerted the SPCA.
"When we get a call like that we go out there as quick as possible," Digiuseppe said.
At the scene, Digiseppe said the care windows were down about a half inch and the dog seemed excited when he noticed Digiuseppe and the state trooper.
"The officer told me he could feel the heat coming off the car," Digiuseppe said.
Trooper was put in the air conditioned shelter vehicle and given water. He drank a large amount, Digiuseppe said.
"His gums were pale and he was dehydrated. There wasn't any water in the car," he added.
The trooper and Digiuseppe knocked on doors in the neighborhood but were unable to find the owner. Trooper did not have tags, the SPCA employee said.
If his owner does not claim him, the canine will be up for adoption at Hillside.
According to Digiuseppe, state law has it that the owner has 48 hours to claim the animal or the it can be put up for adoption.
Depending upon circumstances - such as if a dog had gone missing - that time can be extended, he said.
The state police trooper who took the report was not available for comment Monday.
Barb Umlauf, Hillside SPCA director, said the SPCA is getting more calls regarding heat-related issues and abuse of animals.
"We're doing, on the average, about 40 cruelty calls per month," she said. "It's outrageous. People are being extremely negligent."
Last year, calls averaged about 25 to 30 per month, she said.
"If someone goes in for 10 minutes and ends up for half an hour, a dog can die very easily," she said.
"Never, ever, ever leave the dog in a hot car even for a minute," said Dr. Andrew Levine, DVM, at Schuylkill Veterinary Hospital. He added that temperatures can rise quickly.
Signs of distress for dogs include excessive panting, drooling and they could collapse, he said.
Seizures and difficulty breathing can result if a pet is exposed to too much heat, according to the ASPCA website at www.aspca.org.
Death or brain damage can result from heat stroke within 15 minutes, according to the group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
If your dog is outside, it is important to provide plenty of shade and a constant supply of cold water.
"Warm water is not going to do a dog any good," said Rebecca Schafer, a Schuylkill County Humane Society officer and president of Tamaqua Area Animal Rescue. If it's too hot for people in the sun, it's too hot for pets, she added.
Precautions should also be taken when walking dogs, especially on asphalt, because it can hurt their paws.
Schafer said anyone who comes upon a dog alone in a hot car should the local police department.
According to published reports, a dog with the department of public safety in Tucson, Ariz., died after its owner, an officer with the department, left it in a car. The dog, named Jeg, had to be put down, according to information at the website.