Dogs Die In Hot Car At Pet Clinic After Being Rescued From Fire

CLEARWATER, FL — A feel-good story about dogs rescued from a fire quickly turned to tragedy when two of the resuscitated dogs died after being left in a hot car.

On Thursday afternoon, the Clearwater Fire & Rescue Department responded to a fire at the All Pet Care Hospital at 1453 Sunset Point Road. Fire crews quickly put out the small fire, which was confined mostly to the back of the building.

However, several puppy patients at the clinic inhaled smoke from the fire and needed to be treated with oxygen. Clearwater fire crews are equipped with special equipment to resuscitate pets who suffer from smoke inhalation.

The dogs were recovering, and the owners had been called when an employee at the pet hospital reportedly placed two of the dogs in a hot car and forgot to turn on the air-conditioner. The hospital's owner, Dr. Gursager Singh, said both dogs were older and had pre-existing conditions. They quickly succumbed to heatstroke.

Brooke Rossi, media coordinator for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals in Washington, D.C., said these kinds of mistakes happen much too often, prompting PETA to issue an urgent warning to pet owners.

"Two dogs died in a hot car in Clearwater recently, and this week’s high temperatures put dogs at high risk of enduring heat prostration and dying," Rossi said. "Just last week, PETA field workers discovered the body of a dog who had died after being left chained up in the hot sun, and similar reports nationwide are starting to roll in. Recently, a law-enforcement officer mistakenly left his patrol car with a dog inside it, and the K-9 succumbed to heat prostration and died."

Rossi said last year more than 31 dogs were reported dead from heat-related causes, although figures are likely much higher since most heat-related animal deaths go unreported.

She offered the following advicee to pet owners:

• Touch the pavement to ensure that it won’t burn dogs’ foot pads.
• Be alert to a long, curled-up tongue and heavy panting, as dogs cannot sweat as humans can and heat builds up inside their bodies.
• Walk only in the shade, on earth or grass, and never leave animals outdoors in extreme heat or inside vehicles.