Simon Says, “It’s Too Hot for Spot”

If you think that singing in front of Simon Cowell is scary, you’d better not let him catch you leaving your dog in a parked car this summer, or you’re liable to get more than razor-sharp remarks from him. This tough judge on Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent, and American Idol is now appearing in peta2’s brand-spankin’-new ‘Too Hot for Spot’ public service announcement (PSA) to help spread the word that a hot car is no place for your cool canine companion. A self-professed animal lover, Simon was on the lookout for dogs in parked cars even before he did the PSA for us, but we’ll let him tell you that story.

It only takes a few minutes for temperatures to rise to dangerous levels inside parked cars, even on mildly warm days with the windows down. On a 78-degree day, the temperature inside a shaded car is 90 degrees, while the inside of a car parked in the sun can reach 160 degrees in a matter of minutes. Animals can suffer and die from heatstroke in just 15 minutes, so by the time you pop in and out of the store or restaurant, it may already be too late.