Children and pets in hot cars: what you should and should not do

We are getting into that time of year where temperatures outside climb into the 90s, but inside your car it can get as hot as 140 degrees.

Even temperatures in a car on a cloudy afternoon can reach over 100 degrees. If you do happen to see a child or fur-friend left in a car and in trouble, you might wonder what you should do.

News 25 spoke with Gulfport police and they say your first step should be to contact the police. Gulfport PD Public Information Officer Sgt. Clayton Fulks said, “If you do see an animal or person or child inside a vehicle, especially on a hot day, you can contact the Gulfport Police Department and we will respond. Typically our response to those calls are very quick as we take them very seriously.”

The City of Gulfport has an ordinance that allows any police or animal officer to use whatever means necessary to enter a motor vehicle to protect an animal that is in harm’s way.