Tunica Humane Society warns against leaving children, pets in vehicles

TUNICA COUNTY, Mississippi — The Tunica Humane Society warned Thursday that rising temperatures make it dangerous to leave children or pets unattended inside vehicles.

The organization said in a recent social media post that temperatures inside a vehicle can climb rapidly and become deadly. The post noted that when the outside temperature is 85 degrees, the interior of a parked vehicle can reach 104 degrees within 10 minutes.

The humane society urged people to never leave children or pets inside a parked vehicle, even for a short trip into a store, and said the risk increases the longer someone remains inside the vehicle.

Heat inside cars can develop quickly and lead to heat-related illness or worse, animal welfare groups and public-safety agencies have long warned. Local residents are advised to remain vigilant during warm weather. We will provide more information as it becomes available.