If Vince Farah, rabies control officer for the Henry County Animal Control Shelter, had it his way, no dog would be the victim of being left in a hot car during the scorching summer months.

Calls from concerned residents about dogs abandoned in hot cars prompted ‘Operation Cool Down’ to launch as a campaign to prevent further instances.

“I was getting a number of calls about animals being left in vehicles,” he said. “People were pulling up to shops and leaving their animals locked in the car. They cracked the windows, but that doesn’t cut it.”

Farah said that most people are not aware at just how hot a car can be in the summer months.

According to him, if it is 90-degrees outside, the temperature inside the car can climb to 120-degrees, in as quickly as 30 minutes.

Although Farah said the campaign was successful last year in terms of awareness with the general public, there were some instances in which violations were discovered by him or other staff members.

“We started patrolling shopping centers and small strip malls,” he said. “Just checking to make sure. We did have 12 to 15 cases of animals left in cars last year.”

Farah said there is a simple solution to eliminating instances of animal control removing pets from cars.

“If you can’t take your pet inside where you are going, leave them at home,” he said.

Farah also said that when owners leave their pets at home, that they ensure that the water is kept in a shaded area so the water remains cooled.

Farah said he is thinking about making future collaborations with shopping centers in the county post signs on not leaving pets unattended in cars.

“It’s just another way we keep people more mindful,” he said.