Join the Mission to Stop Dogs From Dying in Hot Cars

Here is the petition I just received, which is being sent to Subaru:

Help Save Dogs From Hot Cars with New Dog Tested, Dog Approved Ad

Dear Subaru,

I want to thank you for being such a dog-friendly company, and ask for your help in saving dogs from a preventable cause of death in cars.

As you may know, every year, dogs die from being left in hot cars over the summer. Many people don't realize how quickly temperatures rise inside cars, even with the windows cracked. On an 80 degree day, the interior temperature can reach 99 degrees in just 10 minutes, and 109 degrees in 20 minutes -- in the time it takes to run an errand, it can become an oven for pets left in the car.

Dogs are particularly susceptible to heat stroke, since they can only cool themselves by panting and through the pads of their feet. Within minutes of being left in a hot car, they can begin to suffer heart problems, brain damage, liver damage, nerve damage, and even death

I love Subaru's "Dog Tested, Dog Approved" commercials. If one of these ads warned people not to leave their dogs in the car, it could save countless lives this summer.

Please create one of your fun and creative "Dog Tested, Dog Approved" commercials to help get out the important message about not leaving dogs in hot cars.

Thank you,

[Your name]

I SIGNED THE PETITION FASTER THAN YOU CAN SAY SUBARU! I'm not sure how many people realize how quickly an automobile heats up, but they literally beomce ovens in a matter of minutes.

More from Change.org:

Dorothy Hearst desperately worried every summer: a car parked at a shopping center, a dog looking anxiously out the window, and no owner in sight. 

Dorothy never leaves Emmi, a 3-year-old labrador whom she adores, in her Subaru -- as a lifelong dog lover, she knows that in the few minutes it takes to run an errand, the temperature in a car can soar to almost 110 degrees. But many people don’t realize that even a 15 minute errand can be fatal for their beloved pets. 

For Dorothy, it’s heartbreaking. And what’s worse is knowing it can happen to even the most loving owners -- people simply don’t realize the danger. Dorothy knows that educating people would save the lives of countless dogs. That’s why she’s started a petition asking Subaru, which prides itself on its dog-friendly image, to make an ad warning drivers not to leave their dogs in the car during the summer.

Click here to add your name.

As a Subaru driver, Dorothy appreciates all the ways the company has already shown it cares about dogs -- and she loves its popular "Dog Tested, Dog Approved" ads showing dogs test driving its cars with hilarious results. This summer, she thinks Subaru can use these creative ads to send an important message about the dangers of hot cars -- and save the lives of hundreds of dogs.

Subaru says 70% of its customers are pet owners, and Dorothy thinks this makes them the ideal voice for such an important, dog-friendly message. She's convinced that Subaru will jump at the chance to appeal not only to its own customers, but to dog lovers everywhere -- and she knows that this is one of the most powerful ways to make sure this summer, more dogs don’t die needlessly.

Click here to ask Subaru to save dogs’ lives by making an ad warning owners not to leave their dogs in the car this summer. 

Thanks for being a change-maker,

Stephanie and the Change.org team