As the heat goes up here in Western Wisconsin pet owners are reminded not to leave their pets in the car

Lauren Evans of the Eau Claire Humane Association urges pet owners to leave their pets at home while they are out running errands.

Evans says that it only takes minutes for the heat to have an effect on pets.

High temperatures in a car can cause dehydration, brain damage and even death for the animals.

"I think people do not realize the damage you can do to your dog when you leave it in the car. We always tell people if the temperatures even if the temperatures is less than 90 degrees and your car is parked in the shade your windows are cracked even an inch or two with in an hour the temperatures in that car can climb to over 130 degrees,” says Evans.

Officer Jason Kaveney with the Eau Claire Police Department says there is a city ordinance that allows animal control to break the window of a car to rescue an animal, if necessary.