Every year, dogs die after being locked inside hot cars. Leaving a dog for even a couple of minutes can be a fatal mistake. Your assistance is invaluable in our effort to spread the word about how dangerous hot cars are for dogs.
Make a Pledge
Make a pledge to keep your dog cool and your voice will be heard in our campaign to prevent dogs from dying in hot cars. We'll even post your photo and pledge in the "My Dog is Cool" photo gallery!
Distribute Flyers & Posters
Download or order Born Free USA united with API's "Don't Leave Me in Here — It's Hot!" flyers. Keep a stack handy for whenever you're out and about. When temperatures rise and you see a dog in a parked car, slip the flyer under the car's windshield wiper. When the dog's guardian returns to the car, he or she will find the educational flyer and will think twice about leaving his or her companion in a hot car again. This flyer saves lives! You can also download the order form to use for tabling events and to spread the word to others on how to order and distribute these lifesaving flyers.
Ask your local shops, supermarkets, restaurants, libraries, and other public places to help educate people about the dangers of leaving a dog in a car in the summertime by distributing "Don't Leave Me in Here — It's Hot!" flyers to their patrons. You can also print API's "Hot Temperature" warning sign for your local businesses to display.
And be sure to check out our new "A Hot Oven or a Hot Car... It's the Same Thing" poster to print out and hang up to remind others not to leave their dogs in parked cars.
"My Dog Is Cool" Radio Public Service Announcements (PSAs)
Born Free USA united with API offers free 10-, 15-, 30-, and 60-second radio Public Service Announcements about the dangers of leaving dogs in hot cars. PSAs are a great way to educate the public and help prevent the tragic deaths of dogs in hot cars.
Your assistance is invaluable in our effort to do this. Running a PSA is usually less expensive than outdoor advertising (billboards) or print ads, making it a great tool with which to educate the public. It is easy for the public to secure and purchase space on radio stations, and some stations may even run them for free if they have space available. All you have to do is provide the radio station's public or community service director with the links below and they can download the PSAs straight from the website. If you have questions about placing a PSA, contact Born Free USA united with API at (800) 348-7387 x204 or email info@bornfreeusa.org.
:10 Second Spot - Preview MP3 »
:15 Second Spot - Preview MP3 »
:30 Second Spot - Preview MP3 »
:60 Second Spot - Preview MP3 »
Born Free USA united with API would like to give a special recognition for donating their time to make these PSAs a reality to former TV anchorwoman and current radio talk-show host Christine Craft and to Dave Losko of the Audio Oasis Recording Studio.
Write a Letter
Write a Letter to the Editor of your local newspaper warning people about the dangers of leaving dogs in hot cars. You can use the following letter to the editor (Acrobat PDF) as a guide when writing to your local paper. Don't forget to check your paper's Letter-to-the-Editor guidelines for restrictions on word length and other submission requirements.
Get Your Car Company On Board
Get involved with our efforts to encourage car manufacturers to take a stand for animals. Car manufacturers often include warnings about leaving children in hot cars; the time has come for those warnings to include companion animals as well! Look in the owner's manual of your car, and let us know what sort of hot-weather safety information is included. Learn the latest about which companies are on board and have committed to keeping dogs safe, and those that will need further action.
Link To Us
Link to MyDogIsCool.com from your website using our "My Dog Is Cool" banners. If you or your organization have a website, you can spread the message about how dogs and hot cars can be a deadly combination.
Take Action
HEAT STROKE! It might only be ten minutes ... and the dog or cat will be near death. Find out more about what happens to dogs suffering from heat stroke ... and how you can help!
Contact API for More Information
Contact API for information about how to pass an ordinance in your community relating to leaving animals unattended in a vehicle. We also need people to work with local shopping centers to enact policies against leaving animals unattended in cars in their parking lots. Born Free USA united with API can help with model language for these efforts. For more information, please contact Sandy Haynes at info@bornfreeusa.org or 1-800-348-7387 x204.
On behalf of Born Free USA united with API, thank you for helping save dogs' lives this summer!