Rash of
Deaths of Dogs From Heatstroke Prompts Group's Request
For Immediate Release:
August 20, 2012
Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-540-2199
PETA has
sent an urgent letter to Rob Schoeneck,
general manager of the Destiny USA mall—the fifth-largest mall in the
country—in Syracuse, asking him to stencil PETA's "Too Hot
for Spot" public service advisory on parking spaces in the mall's lot.
The advisory shows a dog locked in a car under the blazing sun with the caption
"Too Hot for Spot. In Hot Weather, Leave Dogs at Home." In the
letter, PETA points out that every summer, there are reports of dogs who have
suffered agonizing deaths from heatstroke after being left unattended in parked
cars. PETA also explains that in hot weather, the temperature inside a parked
car can rise as much as 70 degrees above the outside temperature within
minutes.
"PETA wants to stop Destiny USA from becoming the scene of the next dog fatality from heatstroke," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "The rule is simple: When the weather turns warm, never leave your dog in the car."
For more information, please visit PETA.org. I can be reached at 202-540-2202 or KaitlynnK@peta.org if you have any questions.
PETA's letter to Destiny USA General Manager Rob Schoeneck follows.
August 20, 2012
Rob Schoeneck
General Manager
Destiny USA
Via e-mail: RobSchoeneck@pyramidmg.com
Dear Mr. Schoeneck:
I am writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and our more than 3 million members and supporters—including thousands across New York—with a suggestion that could save many lives. As the general manager of one of the largest malls in the country, would you please allow us to stencil our "Too Hot for Spot" public service advisory on parking spots in the Destiny USA lot?
Every year, dogs die when their guardians make the mistake of leaving them in the car while they go shopping. Even cracking the windows open or parking in the shade is often not enough to prevent dogs from rapidly overheating and suffering from heatstroke—or even dying. On a 78-degree day, the temperature inside a parked car can soar to between 100 and 120 degrees in just minutes. On a 90-degree day, the interior temperature can reach as high as 160 degrees in less than 10 minutes. Because dogs can cool themselves only by sweating through their paw pads and panting, they can succumb to heatstroke in just minutes, resulting in brain damage or death. PETA has received dozens of reports this summer of dogs who have died in parked cars. This year, five animals were rescued from cars in separate incidents in one Sacramento mall parking lot alone. Our stenciled advisory will serve as a last-minute reminder to shoppers not to make a tragic mistake.
I look forward to working with you. Please contact me at 425-374-2523 or SBell@peta.org.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely yours,
Stephanie Bell
Associate Director
Cruelty Investigations Department