Parked Cars' Heat Threatens Dogs and Occupants

Even on mild days, a parked car can become a lethal oven. The Gießen animal‑protection group notes that with an outside temperature of 24 °C, interior heat rises above 30 °C in just ten minutes and exceeds 40 °C after half an hour. Dogs, which regulate temperature mainly by panting, cannot cope with such rapid heating and risk circulatory failure, organ damage and death. The group urges owners to avoid leaving dogs in vehicles and to call police if a dog is found in an overheated car.

A test by the ADAC examined how various sun‑shielding solutions affect interior temperatures. An unprotected vehicle reached 53 °C after 30 minutes in midday sun. A full‑cover “half‑garage” reduced the temperature to 43 °C, the most effective method. A reflective outer foil lowered it to 45 °C, while interior blinds and a white dashboard cloth offered only modest reductions of 4 °C and 3 °C respectively. Tinted windows barely cooled the air but protected rear‑seat upholstery. The findings highlight that external covers provide the greatest protection against dangerous heat buildup in parked cars.