Two Ocean Beach small businesses have teamed to make a difference in canines’ lives this summer.
Mad Munch Grilled Cheezer Co. and Ocean Beach Business Center, both run by husband-wife duos Kate and Zach Heinz at 4871B Newport Ave. and Jo and Chris Peregoy at 4967 Newport Ave. Suites 10 and 12, respectively, have launched their “Hot Dog” campaign warning people against leaving pets in cars anytime throughout the summer.
Keeping pooches locked in vehicles is more than just dangerous. State Penal Code Section 597.7 PC makes it illegal for any driver to leave their dog inside of a vehicle unattended in conditions that may result in great bodily harm to the dog. Violators can have a personal injury case filed against them and are also likely to face state criminal prosecution.
Kate Heinz said launching a campaign reminding people how dangerous it is to leave dogs in cars is a matter of “common sense,” and arose from repeatedly witnessing people doing exactly that. “A lot of people sometimes think they can just run in for a quick coffee or errand, but if there are lines, or things get held up, I see dogs in the car for 15 or 20 minutes,” she said adding, “Even though that doesn’t seem very long, the temperatures can double in minutes. They’re (dogs) panting and the windows are cracked but that doesn’t do anything. If you’re in a car in the sun with all the windows up: It’s just super hot.”
Concluded Heinz: “More people need to be aware of it (dog’s welfare) and I thought they’d all be on the same page by now about that stuff. You don’t leave any living thing in a (unventilated) car. You can always just leave your dog at home or tie them outside. At least that way, they’ll be getting a breeze.”
When approached by Heinz to join her campaign, Peregoy of OBBC, who is a dog owner and lived in Arizona previously and knows all about the summer heat, was all in on it. “It (car) gets hot even if you crack your windows, and most people aren’t cracking their windows for safety and security reasons,” said Peregoy noting Heinz sees a lot of dogs inside their cars whereas she, at OBBC, sees dogs in cars parked for Wednesday’s OB Farmers Market. “And being from Arizona, I ‘know’ how hot the asphalt is and how the dogs can burn their little (foot) pads,” Peregoy said offering a rule of thumb to judge whether a surface is too hot to walk on. “If you hold the back of your hand to anything that you’re going to let your dog walk on if you can’t do it – they can’t do it,” Jo said.
The problem of leaving dogs in vehicles is exacerbated by OB’s being a “super dog-friendly neighborhood,” pointed out Heinz adding dogs can walk down Newport “and get a treat at every business.”
The Peregoys at OBBC are pitching in to make posters, prints, and stickers promoting keeping dogs out of hot cars along Newport Avenue storefronts. “We have them in an assortment of sizes,” said Jo adding, “If you want to be ‘really cool,’ you can just slap them on windshields with dogs in cars.”
Heinz noted the 40 days of July 3 to Aug. 10-11 are referred to in the “Farmers’ Almanac” as the “Dog Days of Summer,” which she pointed out is “supposed to be the hottest days of summer.”
Added Peregoy: We’re hoping to get a lot more of the (OB) merchants on board by putting signs in (windows).”
DOG DAYS OF SUMMER
Risks Involved in Leaving unattended dogs in locked vehicles:
- Temperature rise: When a car is turned off and parked in the sun, the interior temperature can rise very rapidly. It’s possible for a dog trapped in a hot car to succumb to heat exhaustion in a relatively short time.
- Lack of ventilation. If the dog’s owner leaves the dog in their car without ventilation, such as the air conditioner running and/or ventilation of some kind, the dog could potentially suffocate.
- Lack of water. Heat and lack of airflow are made even worse for a dog when they do not have any water to drink. Consequently, dogs may suffer extreme bodily harm even within seemingly short time spans under dangerous conditions.
What are the penalties for leaving a dog in the car? A first offense in California that does not result in serious injury to the dog is an infraction punishable by a $100 fine. If the dog suffers injury, the offense escalates to a misdemeanor, and the defendant faces up to six months in county jail and a much larger fine. Some defendants may also be charged with animal abuse, which often qualifies for felony prosecution.
