Dogs in hot cars on warm summer days DON'T mix - Download a poster to help

The warm, sunny days of summer have finally returned to most every state across the nation. A welcome respite for the rain weary citizens.

For dogs, this is a potentially deadly time of year. Despite the repetitive warnings sent out each summer, there are always sad stories of senseless dog deaths caused by owners leaving their canine companions  inside of hot vehicles.

There is something that we can all do to help prevent these deaths - something over and above keeping our eyes open for dogs inside of over-heated vehicles. Thanks to a recent notification from Tiny Growl, creator of the ScooPup Pocket, I've been alerted to a website where a life-saving flier can be printed.

Readers, please visit My Dog is Cool to download a free poster which states "A hot oven or a hot car, it's the same thing" with a photo of a sweet faced pooch sitting in an oven. Concerned dog lovers can print out these fliers and take them to large retail stores.

Take a moment to ask the store manager if the fliers can be posted at the front door or at visible places in the parking lot. By taking a moment to take action, you can literally be saving a life.

Dogs in cars can become severely over-heated and die within moments - even on a day that does not appear to be blazing hot. Leaving the windows cracked is not always enough, nor is finding a shady spot.

Distracted owners can take longer than they thought they would while shopping, or even forget that the dog is still in the car.

If you do see an unattended dog inside of a hot vehicle, please don't assume that he will be ok without your assistance. If you are at a retail establishment, go inside and ask a store employee to page the owner of the vehicle over the loud-speaker.

If you are not at a retail establishment, pick up the phone and call the police. Time is of the essence when the temperatures are high. Do not turn a blind eye to the problem.

Please share this article with as many people as you can. Help spread the word about this easy, effective way to help the dogs this summer.

If you would like to continue receiving dog-related articles, including news, tips and advice, please click the Subscribe Icon. It's free and anonymous. Thank you for reading.

If you have a story idea that you would like to share, please email me directly at Eims1@live.com. Thank you.