La Crosse WI (WXOW) -- The extreme heat isn't just hard on people.
Animals can suffer too.
The Coulee Region Humane Society in Onalaska, along with the local police, rescued two dogs from a hot car Friday.
They were left inside, unattended, while the car was parked at a local store.
The society received a call about the dogs and found them lying on the floor of the car, panting, when they arrived on the scene.
Seven other phone calls were made to the CRHS last weekend regarding dogs left unattended inside cars.
But Heather Schmid, the society's executive director, hopes this incident will be a warning to pet owners about how dangerous that can be.
"I think a really easy, basic rule of thumb is that if it's too hot for you to be outside, it's too hot for your pets to be outside," said Schmid said.
"Even if your pets are normally outside animals, these temperatures are extreme."
Leaving an animal in a hot car puts it at risk for a heat stroke, brain damage and even death.
Schmid added it's equally important to keep your pet in a cool, dry area when indoors as well. Laundry rooms and basements work the best.
For a full list of tips on how to help your pet beat the heat, visit the humane society's web site at www.couleehumane.com.
