It’s hot, you guys.

Like extreme heat warning, ice-cream melting, mind numbing, AC-busting HOT.

It’s a heat wave, ya’ll.

(Which for me means 1) Looking like this bear and 2) Complaining to anyone and everyone about the heat, until I go inside and complain about how freezing the AC is.)

Aside from annoying my friends and coworkers, this heat wave has also caused a changed in my relationship with my dog.

I’m just going to admit it: I’m one of those over-attached pet owners. All my stories involve the dog, my camera phone is loaded with puppy pictures, I talk to him like he’s a human child… the whole deal.

And usually, I take him everywhere.

If I was going to hurl myself out of planes, I would probably bring him along.

Like most dogs, mine loves to ride in the car, cruising around town running errands with me, head out the window and all.

I loved letting him tag along with me in the car. But no longer.

I always knew enough to realize I shouldn’t leave the dog in the car for longer than “just a minute.” But I would leave him (with the windows cracked) while I ran to return a movie or grab a coffee.

But in the summertime–and especially in the midst of a heat wave–“just a minute” is too long to leave the dog in the car.

As some of you know, I also help run Twitter accounts for our nurses, firefighters, teachers, and peace officers (I know, I know… shameless plug). This means reading lots and lots of Police and Firefighter reports and stories.

The number of reports I’ve read about firefighters and police officers saving pets from hot cars is shocking.

As a pet lover myself, I want to believe that these are all accidental. I figure other people are like me: they don’t want to leave the pet at home alone and bored and know that they love riding along.

But we’re not doing our puppies any favors by bringing them along on a hot day.

Just check out these numbers from the Animal Protection Institute on how hot it gets inside your car while you’re running an errand for “just a minute”:

Think cracking the windows solves the problem? Think again:

What can happen if you your pet does get overheated?

According to PETA, just 15 minutes in an overheated car can lead to brain damage or death.

PETA also has a great list of warning signs that your dog is overheated (and what to do about it) and tips for what to do if you spot a dog inside a car on a hot day. Check them out here.

So long story short: Until it cools wayyyy down, leave your dog at home with the AC on full blast. If it’s too hot outside for you, it’s too hot to leave the puppy out there.

If I haven’t convinced you yet, maybe Simon Cowell and PETA can:

Consider your pet a part of the family? California Casualty understands. That’s why we want to help you protect them year round. We’ve partnered with Pets Best to offer insurance policies for your pet! Check them out here! Feed them, love them, insure them.