Burbank, CA — The Animal Protection Institute (API), a national non-profit animal welfare group, has chosen a poster by Woodbury University student Simon Majarian, to launch its summer initiative “My Dog is Cool.” This program aims to save dogs from dying in hot cars during warm-weather months.
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Simon’s teacher at Woodbury suggested he submit the poster that he had created for a graphic design project. The poster reads “A hot oven or a hot car … it’s the same thing” and features an image of puppy seated in a broiler pan in an open oven.
“I wanted to create an image that would really shock people into action. I wanted them to make the connection that a hot car is literally an oven for dogs,” says Simon.
“People need to be shocked into action,” adds Sharie Lesniak, API’s Creative Director. “Too many sad stories start with ‘I only went into the store for a minute’ and I think if anyone saw one of Simon’s powerful posters, they’d turn right around and take their dog home. It’s definitely an image that’s worth a thousand words — or in this case, a thousand degrees.”
Simon’s poster can be found on the lifesaving website www.MyDogIsCool.com which is a free, friendly resource to help spread the word about the dangers of hot cars. Resources include downloadable “It’s hot!” flyers that can be used when a dog is left in a hot car, and an “Is It Too Hot?” weather forecasting tool that allows you to just enter your zip code and see if it’s too hot to take your canine pal along in the car.
“As the summer heats up, it’s important that people be made aware of the dangers of leaving companion animals inside hot cars,” says API’s Director of Legal and Government Affairs, Nicole Paquette. “People mean well by taking their companion along with them while they work, visit, shop, or run errands, but dogs and other animals are extremely susceptible to heat and even a few minutes can be deadly.”
Numerous studies have confirmed the danger of leaving animals in cars when the weather is warm, even relatively mild. A Stanford University test found that even if it’s only 72 degrees outside, a car’s internal temperature can rocket to 116 degrees within an hour. Hundreds of beloved canine companions are unintentionally killed or injured each year by being left in hot cars, even with windows cracked and only for a short time.
The Animal Protection Institute is a national non-profit animal advocacy organization working to end animal cruelty and exploitation through legislation, litigation and public education. For more information, visit www.api4animals.org.
Hi-res images are available for download from www.MyDogIsCool.com or by emailing press@api4animals.org.
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Contact:
Zibby Wilder, Animal Protection Institute, 916-447-3085 x205