It's starting to get hot out there, summer has finally made it to Minnesota! While many of us Minnesotans appreciate the heat, our furry friends need to be checked on more often. But what happens when you see a dog (or cat, etc.) alone in a car on a hot day? Can you break the window to save the dog?

Dog waiting for his owner
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Caring for Your Dog on a Hot Summer Day

If you're a dog owner, there are lots of things you can do to keep your dog comfortable in the hot summer weather.

According to Medivet, here are some of the steps you can take:

Adjust your walking routine. Don't take them as far as usual, especially on an extra hot day.

Make sure to keep them hydrated, provide plenty of water.

Give them shady spots to relax.

Have some fun with them splashing in a pool!

Pool Dog
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Can You Legally Break a Car Window to Save a Dog?

So what do you do if you're out and about and see a dog trapped in a hot car? According to Minnesota Statute 346.57, Subdivision 2, it is, unfortunately, illegal for us to break a car window to save a dog, cat, etc. in Minnesota from a hot car.

If you do see an animal trapped in a hot car, these are the people that ARE legally allowed to rescue the animal: law enforcement, a humane agent, a dog warden, or a firefighter/rescue department member. Only those people are allowed to "use reasonable force to enter a motor vehicle and remove a dog or cat which has been left in the vehicle".

LOOK: Here Are 30 Foods That Are Poisonous to Dogs

To prepare yourself for a potential incident, always keep your vet's phone number handy, along with an after-hours clinic you can call in an emergency. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center also has a hotline you can call at (888) 426-4435 for advice.

Even with all of these resources, however, the best cure for food poisoning is preventing it in the first place. To give you an idea of what human foods can be dangerous, Stacker has put together a slideshow of 30 common foods to avoid. Take a look to see if there are any that surprise you.

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