The Sonoma Humane Society has launched the first-ever LIVE CAR TEMPERATURE WEATHER STATION today. The “PAW GAUGE” (PETemperature Automobile Weather Gauge) provides real-time temperature inside of a car throughout the day and is a life-saving tool for pet owners and their animals. Temperature readings can be found online at Sonoma Humane Society.

Heatstroke is a dangerous condition that takes the lives of many animals (and people) each year and generally occurs in hot summer weather when dogs are left with inadequate ventilation in hot cars. A recent study by the Stanford University School of Medicine showed that the temperature inside a car, even on a relatively cool (70 degree F) day, can increase by an average of 40 degrees F within one hour, regardless of the outside temperature.

The PAW Gauge idea came about when Sonoma Humane Society Executive Director, Kiska Icard, was at an Animal Hospital last year and witnessed an emergency situation with a dog suffering from heatstroke. “The owner didn’t maliciously try to hurt her dog; she was unaware of how fast temperatures can rise inside of a car” says Kiska. Now at the Sonoma Humane Society, Kiska put her idea to work and with her husband’s help located a weather station that provides real-time temperature readings, which can be viewed online from anywhere and anytime.

The weather station is currently placed inside of a parked vehicle at the Sonoma Humane Society in Santa Rosa, and temperatures are automatically uploaded every minute on the Sonoma Humane Society’s website. The windows are partially cracked on the vehicle, and the station is positioned on the seat of the car. The first day it was installed, temperatures shot up to 109 degrees. The weather outside was around 83 degrees at the time.

In addition to saving the lives of pets, this device can also help children and the elderly too, who are often left in cars. “Younger children and pets cannot regulate heat the same way we do. They cannot cool themselves and cannot free themselves from a hot car” says Kiska.

“As a society we have become overloaded with information and often people get distracted. A ‘quick’ errand can turn into a 15-30-60 minute ordeal, posing a high risk for fatality if a child or pet is left behind in the car” says Kiska. An organization called Kids in Cars has a great tip for helping to alleviate the number of children and babies left in cars. They suggest bringing a teddy bear or baby doll with you and putting it on the front seat when you have your baby in the car (behind you and out of sight). This acts as a reminder that someone is with you, and they are depending on you. The same thing can be done for pets. “I carry a toy with me whenever I travel with my dogs and place it on the front seat” says Kiska.

The PAW Gauge can be most useful (and lifesaving) if local weather stations and media can help get the word out. Temperatures can be easily accessed on the Sonoma Humane Society’s website 24/7 at SonomaHumane.org, and hopefully will be broadcast along with regular weather updates on local news stations and newspapers. The hope is that more agencies will follow and install weather stations in cars throughout the country. It’s a life-saving reminder. “If even one pet owner sees this and decides, maybe I should leave Fido at home today. That’s one life saved” says Kiska.

The Sonoma Humane Society has cared for homeless, neglected and abused companion animals for over 79 years, and  is located five miles west of Highway 101 at 5345 Highway 12 West in Santa Rosa, just past the Llano Road intersection. For more information, call (707) 542-0882, or visit the Society’s web site at Sonoma Humane Society.