A vet filmed herself locked in a car during a heatwave to highlight the impact soaring temperatures can have on dogs trapped inside vehicles.
Zephanie Woodward, 35, was forced to get out of the car as temperatures soared past 46 degree Celcius (115F) in just 30 minutes.
After suffering in the sweltering vehicle, she warned a dog would likely be dead in similar circumstances.
The soaring temperatures were recorded inside the mother-of-two’s car despite one of the window’s being slightly open.
Vet Zephanie Woodward, 35, filmed herself locked inside a car to replicate the experience of dogs left in vehicles during the summer
Ms Woodward, who works in Bridgend, South Wales, used a thermometer and stopwatch on her mobile for her experiment.
The clip was posted on Shepherds Veterinary Hospital’s Facebook page.
She wrote: ‘In this video I experience what it must be like when a dog is left in a car.
‘I couldn’t believe the temperatures that were reached, and came out feeling pretty unwell. Please think about your pets in this heatwave.’
Talking to the camera at the start of the video, she said: ‘I thought I would come and have a little sit in my car and decide how it must feel for the dogs being left in the car and see how long I can cope with it.’
Ms Woodward presents the timer on the phone to the camera and the temperature gauge, which was sitting at a toasty 31 degrees (87.8 F).
Seven minutes passes before Ms Woodward tells viewers: ‘I feel like I’ve got a little bit of a sweat on, I’m certainly glad I’m not a dog wearing a fur coat.’
After 20 minutes passed, Zephanie was visibly sweaty as temperatures soared past 40C
Temperatures on the outside remained at 31C (87.8F) but the temperature inside the car had jumped to just under 38 degrees (100F).
Twelve minutes passes and the temperatures soar to 40C (104F) inside the car. Ms Woodward admits the heat is becoming unbearable in the car.
She said: ‘I am sweating now. If I was a dog I would be panting away, and therefore losing water. I’d be needing a drink.
‘It’s approaching the point where I am definitely uncomfortable.’
After 30 minutes in the car, she is visiably red-faced and sweaty as temperatures inside the vehicle reach a sweltering 46C (114F).
The vet says: ‘I have had enough. I’m getting out of here. I’m pretty convinced if I was a dog you would probably come in to find me collapsed at the bottom of your car.
‘So please, don’t forget. Dog’s die in hot cars.’
Speaking today, Ms Woodward said: ‘The car was sweltering, the smallest of breeze coming through the crack in the window was my only relief.
Temperatures inside the vehicle reached a sweltering 46C after 30 minutes
‘The reason I decided to do it was to raise awareness of how hot a car can get. I was pretty surprised by the temperature that was reached and so quickly.
‘I came out covered in sweat and then you realise that dogs can’t sweat and maybe I should have been wearing a fur coat to have a real understanding of how a dog would feel.
‘I just jumped in my car parked in it Hospital car park, as if I’d pop to the shop and left the dog whilst I grab a couple of bits.’
Asked if Shepherds Veterinary Hospital had any patients in suffering after being left in a hot car, Ms Woodward replied: ‘Luckily this year we haven’t yet. What we see more of is heat stroke after walks in the sun. The video was more of about awareness and prevention.’
It comes after two police officers in Fife had to smash in a car window to rescue a ‘boiling’ dog on Wednesday.
The dog was left in a car in 30 degree heat, and the canine’s owner was charged with causing an animal unnecessary suffering.