Hot summer weather and shopping malls both fall near the top of my list of things I don’t like, so finding myself combining the two a few Saturdays ago in Kansas City put me in a particularly foul mood.

As I trudged my way across the expansive parking lot, inwardly cursing the morning temperatures that had already hit “80 degrees and rapidly rising,” I heard a familiar noise, starting from a spot quite a ways from the buildings and echoing off the stone walls. And my heart just sank.

Barking.

Unhappy barking, to be sure. I turned and saw other customers looking around to pinpoint the source. A few of us headed back and found it at the far end of the lot – a van, parked in the “shade” of a sapling that had all of a few dozen leaves on it. The little yapper was aiming his complaints at the slightly opened window of the front passenger seat. He was so short that his head barely cleared the door.

It didn’t take long after we notified the information booth for parking lot security to show up, expressing a great deal more concern than the little guy’s owner apparently had. A few phone calls and a “slim jim” car lock opener later, the miniature dog stood panting on the pavement. His rescuers led him to the air-conditioned inside, where he was given a bowl of cool water and much attention.

His owner finally showed up to claim him more than an hour later and was greatly put out at the inconvenience.

Folks, it’s that time of year when the Lawrence Humane Society – and indeed, humane societies and veterinary clinics across the country – start chanting our warm-weather mantra: Don’t leave dogs in cars. Don’t leave dogs in cars. Don’t leave dogs in cars.

We can’t stress it enough. Statistics show that when the temperatures outside are between 72 and 96 degrees, temperatures inside a car can rise 19 degrees in 10 minutes, 29 degrees in 20 minutes, 34 degrees in 30 minutes and a whopping 43 degrees in one hour. And don’t believe that cracking the windows helps: Studies show it really doesn’t – at least not enough to make a difference.

So say that little dog had been left in that van for the whole time his owner had been shopping, and say that temperature had started, at best, at 80 degrees.

Within 10 minutes the interior temperature would have been 99 degrees. In another 10, it would have risen to a sweltering 109 degrees. Ten minutes after that the little guy would have been passed out in 114-degree temperatures. And after one hour, that “beloved pet” would have been baking in 123-degree heat.

What was that owner thinking?

Heat stress is a terrible thing for a body to suffer through, and even if your pet survives it, he or she might experience permanent organ or brain damage from the experience. Watch carefully for the warning signs of heat stress, which include warm skin, rapid heartbeat, a failure to respond to simple commands, extreme panting or salivating, anxiousness, staring, weakness and fatigue, and in the end, collapse.

Responsible owners need to remember that very young and very old dogs are especially susceptible to heat stress, as are overweight ones and those who have respiratory or cardiopulmonary problems or who have a previous history of heat stress. Short-nosed breeds also have a much harder time in warm temperatures.

To help prevent heat stress in your dog, just follow one simple, common-sense rule: If it would make you either feel uncomfortable or suffer, then don’t put your pet through it. Just like people, animals need to avoid excessive exercise in hot weather. They need ventilation and access to adequate shade, and they need plenty of fresh cool water to drink.

And absolutely don’t let them talk you into taking them for a ride in the car if you plan to do any shopping. The temperatures in a vehicle simply soar too high too quickly, and air-conditioning systems can fail if you leave the car running. Often, too, older cooling systems in vehicles simply blow hot air when they are standing still (something I recently learned in spite of a $120 recharge of my car’s Freon unit – just come sit with me through a long stoplight sometime and you’ll see what I mean).

If you find an animal is suffering from heat stress, avoid the temptation to immediately immerse him in cold water. Cool water does the trick, but do it gradually so you don’t introduce shock on top of an already potentially fatal situation. You can either spray the animal or slowly place him in a tub of cool water. Ice packs around the head and neck also help to lower body temperatures. Then call your veterinarian immediately to see what else is recommended.

Keep in mind that Kansas now has a law on the books making animal cruelty a felony in our state, and the Lawrence Humane Society will investigate all calls made to us regarding the mistreatment of animals. If you see an animal who is not being cared for properly during this long, hot summer (or at any other time), please don’t hesitate to call us at 843-6835. All reports will be confidential.

And remember that donations to the Lawrence Humane Society now can be made online at www.lawrencehumane.org. Some of the wonderful gift items we sell there will also be at our Lawrence Sidewalk Sale booth Thursday and at our Humane Society Garage Sale at the shelter Saturday. See you there (or contact the shelter if you have garage sale items to donate).