PORTLAND, Oregon (COIN) – With a Heatwave on the horizon What should you do if you see a pet or small child trapped in a locked car in the Portland area this week?
While you can take steps to help them, the dangerously high temperatures are a reminder to everyone to never leave children or pets alone in a car, even for a few minutes.
“The death or serious injury of a pet or child left in a hot car is 100% preventable,” said Mike Benner, a spokesman for the Portland Police Bureau. “Just use common sense. Leave your pets at home in a cool environment and if you take your child on errands, take them with you to the store. Don’t leave them in the car.”
What a citizen can do if they happen to come across this situation as a passerby is to follow an Oregon law that allows breaking into a car if you see a child or pet in danger. However, there are a few guidelines that must be followed first. And it should only be done in an absolute emergency and as a last resort.
Before the car can be broken into, several requirements must first be met:
- Check whether the child or animal can get out without help.
- Child or animal is in immediate danger.
- Call the police or emergency services before getting into the vehicle.
- Do not use more force than necessary.
- If you break the window, stay near the car until the police or the vehicle owner arrives.
Inside cars, temperatures can get hot very quickly. According to the Highway Transportation Safety Administration, temperatures can rise by 20 degrees in just 10 minutes. The Portland area is expected to see triple-digit temperatures this weekend, with a National Weather Service warns of extreme heat With the new ordinance taking effect on Thursday, it’s no wonder local pet owners are exercising extreme caution.
“I don’t want this to happen to my dog or anyone else’s dog or child. Do whatever it takes to keep them safe,” said Oriana Merone, a Pearl District resident. “When we take him outside, we only take short walks and then go back inside and bring lots of water.”
Sarah Tauber, a veterinarian at Dove Lewis, said it’s important to watch for signs of heat stroke in pets to prevent the worst-case scenario.
“At the first signs, some animals will start panting excessively or just start panting. They might drool a little bit. They might become really lethargic and not interact with you as much,” she said.
Sara Dacklin, a dog owner from Portland, said she keeps her furry friend off the sidewalk during midday walks when temperatures rise above 80 degrees.
“We go out early in the morning and late at night. Around noon we stay on the grass. Stay inside and cool. Lots of water and she had a cool bed,” she said.
Whether you have a pet, a child, or just want to cool off, it’s important to be mindful of how much time you or your loved ones spend outside. As for breaking into a car to rescue a child or pet in danger, Portland police said that should be a last resort and that it’s best to find the owner of the car and call police first.
