We all know that we shouldn't leave our beloved pooches in hot cars and yet every single year without fail we hear the horror stories.
Now, a vet has taken the unusual move of baking some cookies in her car to show how hot it can get and to remind pet owners not to leave their dogs inside.
Carola Leman, a 33-year-old veterinary nurse, popped a tray of chocolate chip cookies on her dashboard and managed to have them cooked in four hours.
While the cookies were baking, Carola's car's thermometer showed 60C, which she says is enough to kill a dog in minutes.
Advert
The team at Bishop's StortfordVeterinary Hospital in Hertfordshire, who were behind the experiment hope it will highlight how dangerous it can be to leave dogs in hot cars.
Posting on Facebook Carola wrote: "So to prove a point about the heat generated in a car at the moment.
"Experiment: Dashboard Cookies.
"Outcome: Cars in this heat are like ovens.
Advert
"Please do not leave animals or humans in the car in this heat. Even five minutes can be fatal for an overheated animal as it may result in the shutting down of the organs.
"Having a window open makes no difference at all."
Carola popped out and bought some ready-made cookie dough, which she rolled out and placed onto a baking tray. The tray was put on the car's dashboard - alongside the thermometer - and the team went back in to finish their shift.
Although the cookie dough's instructions claimed an oven temperature of 180C would be required to bake them, the team found that within four hours the biscuits were baked to perfection.
Advert
Carola added: "It was so hot that the metal baking tray was starting to damage the dashboard, so we had to take it out and put something underneath it.
"We left them for four hours because we couldn't keep coming back in the middle of our shift but afterwards they were completely done.
"We ate them. They tasted fine."
Advert
This year the UK has been hit with a heatwave leaving parts of the UK melting with temperatures topping 35C, so there's never been a more important time to share the message that when it comes to dogs and hot cars, just don't risk it.
Carola said: "The experiment proves that dogs should not be left in cars on a hot day and that it can be fatal. Only travel with your dog if it is absolutely necessary.
"Our advice also is to walk your dog early in the morning and very late at night when it has started to cool down.
"Check the pavements with your hand first.If you cannot hold the back of your hand pressed against the pavement for more than fiveseconds this is too hot for your dog's feet."
Advert
Her words echo the advice given by the RSPCA. Lisa Hens, a dog welfare expert from the charity said: "Never leave an animal in a car, caravan, conservatory or outbuilding when it's warm outside as temperatures can quickly rise, even when it doesn't feel that hot.
"For example, when it's 22C outside, within an hour the temperature can reach 47C inside a vehicle, which can result in death.
"In an emergency, please dial 999 to report a dog in a hot car to police as they have the power to enter a vehicle to free the dog.
"Sadly, the RSPCA has been made aware of far too many animals perishing inside vehicles due to the heat when their owners simply weren't aware of the dangers of leaving their pets unattended during the warm weather. Please don't take the risk and either keep your dog with you or leave them at home in the cool."
Featured Image Credit: RSPCA/Deadline News