Group Will Replace With 'Too Hot for Spot' Ad to Warn of Danger of Leaving Dogs in Parked Cars
For Immediate Release:
July 13, 2011
Contact:
Shakira Croce 202-483-7382
Sedona, Ariz. — PETA's plans to erect a new billboard near Sedona—which would have shown a distressed dog in a parked car next to the caption "A Sweat Lodge Can Kill You. A Parked Car Can Kill Him. Dogs Overheat Faster Than Humans," in reference to the recent conviction of the man responsible for the deaths of three people overcome by heat in a Sedona sweat lodge—have been halted. PETA made the decision to stop the campaign out of respect for the victims and their families, some of whom have expressed concerns about the campaign. PETA has also made clear that it recognizes that the fatal sweat lodge incident was not typical.
PETA says that although it has worked alongside victims' families in the past to bring some good from such tragedies—notably, with the relatives of one of Jeffrey Dahmer's victims—it recognizes that every situation is different, and it has every intention of honoring these families' wishes.
"Although we will not proceed with the billboard, we will continue to bring attention to the truly life-and-death danger of leaving dogs in parked cars in summer," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "We will replace that ad with one that reads "Too Hot for Spot?" and shows a dog character in a hot car, because even well-intentioned people must remember that leaving a dog in the car, even for a few minutes, can be a death sentence."
Every year, PETA receives reports of dogs who die as a result of being left alone in a car on a warm day—even when the windows are left slightly open or the car is parked in the shade. On a relatively mild summer day, the temperature inside even a shaded car can climb to more than 100 degrees in a matter of minutes. On a 78-degree day, the temperature inside a parked car can soar to between 100 and 120 degrees in just minutes, and on a 90-degree day, the interior temperature can reach as high as 160 degrees in less than 10 minutes. Dogs—who only sweat through their footpads and cool themselves by panting—can quickly succumb to dehydration and heatstroke and suffer brain damage or even death as a result. Dogs should always be left at home—inside—during hot weather.
For more information, please visit PETA.org.