By Daphna Nachminovitch

It’s hot outside—so hot that spending too much time in the sun is not just uncomfortable but also potentially deadly, as was evidently the case for a chained South Carolina pit bull who was left to bake in the heat with no access to shade or water. A concerned neighbor called the police to report the dog’s suffering, but by then, it was too late: The dog had apparently strangled to death on his tether in a desperate attempt to reach shade. His owner has been charged with cruelty.

As this appalling death illustrates, dogs can suffer terribly in hot weather. They can’t sweat as humans do to cool themselves—they can only pant. When the temperature exceeds 90 degrees, they can’t effectively shed body heat. As heatstroke sets in and their organs begin to shut down, they may vomit, bleed internally, suffer a heart attack, collapse, convulse, or lose consciousness. Last month, in North Carolina, yet another pit bull tethered with no shade or water died. Before his death, a concerned neighbor had reported seeing him panting and foaming at the mouth.

“Backyard dogs” are especially at risk of suffering from heatstroke because they’re out of sight, out of mind. Tethered dogs commonly become tangled in their chains and are unable to reach shade—and their owners either don’t notice or don’t care. Or the animals tip over their water bowls and go for hours without water (if their owners were thoughtful enough to provide them with fresh water in the first place). Many have only doghouses for “shade” (if they have any shelter at all), but doghouses are usually useless for protecting dogs from the sun, since they can actually become even hotter than the outside temperature if they’re placed in a sunny location.

Dozens of dogs have also died this summer after being left unattended in hot cars. A few weeks ago, six dogs died from heatstroke after they were placed in sweltering vans at the Academi security training facility in North Carolina. According to a whistleblower, the dogs were left unattended for several hours. One of them reportedly managed to escape from her crate and tore up the vehicle’s interior as she unsuccessfully fought for her life. Just a week prior to that, a Connecticut man was charged with cruelty after his second dog in two years died inside a parked car. So far this year, at least 39 dogs, including four puppies, have reportedly died after being left in hot vehicles.

How can these tragedies be prevented? By taking commonsense precautions and keeping an eye out for animals in danger. Keep your dogs indoors and let them outside only for short periods to relieve themselves during the hottest parts of the day. Make sure that your dog always has access to fresh water and shade.

Never leave a dog unattended in a parked car during warm weather, even with the windows slightly open—and even if you’re going to be gone for only “a few minutes.” On a 78-degree day, the temperature inside a parked car can soar to 100 in just minutes—and on a 90-degree day, interior temperatures can reach as high as 109 degrees in less than 10 minutes. Keep an eye on all animals you see left unattended outdoors or in parked cars. If you see an animal in distress, call 911 immediately. Time is of the essence. Don’t leave until help arrives. Your intervention could save a life.

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Daphna Nachminovitch is the senior vice president of the Cruelty Investigations Department for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.