Every year, dogs die after being locked inside cars while their owners leave them to shop or run errands, often for "just a few minutes." These tragedies occur with alarming frequency, yet the animals' deaths are completely preventable.

"People mean well by taking their dogs or other animals along with them while they work, visit, shop or run errands, but warm weather can turn a car into a death trap," said United Animal Nations President and CEO Nicole Forsyth.

A Stanford University test found that when it is 72 degrees outside, a car's internal temperature can rocket to 116 degrees within an hour, even with windows cracked. When it is 85 degrees outside, the temperature inside a car can soar to 102 degrees in 10 minutes and 120 degrees in 30 minutes. A dog can only withstand a high body temperature for a short time before suffering nerve damage, heart problems, liver damage, brain damage or even death.

The lifesaving Web site www.MyDogIsCool.com is a free, friendly resource to help spread the word about the dangers of leaving dogs in hot cars. Resources include:

"It's hot!" fliers that people can leave on a windshield if they see a dog unattended in a hot car.

A weather forecasting tool that allows pet owners to enter their zip code to see if it is too hot to take their dog in the car.

Free downloadable "hot temperature warning" posters that can be hung in store windows.

Click here for more summer pet care tips from the Humane Society of the United States