Dog days of summer: Don't forget your pet

With temperatures expected to be hotter than normal in the coming days, the Kalispell Police Department reminds residents to be careful about leaving their furry friends alone in their vehicles.

Vehicle interiors can heat up to much higher temperatures than the outside and create a hazardous and potentially fatal situation during the summer months, even if vehicle windows are left partially open.

A chart included in a press release from Kalispell Police Chief Roger Nasset indicated that within 10 minutes of being shut off and left closed, the interior of a vehicle could be 19 degrees warmer than the outside temperature, and a further 15 degrees warmer after 30 minutes.