Irresponsible pet owners have left their dogs in parked cars with the windows up on hot days, creating incredibly hot and unsafe environments, and many pets have died in the process.
It’s become such an issue, that some states allow for passersby to shatter car windows to rescue said pets, without fearing legal retribution. They’re known as Good Samaritan laws, and they shouldn’t need to exist in the first place.
Luckily, electric car maker Tesla just rolled out a feature for their cars called Dog Mode, that senses an animal in the car, and keeps a safe and comfortable temperature inside, regardless of the outside temperature. Along with adjusting the climate control, a big notice on the center screen alerts concerned citizens that the owner is gone, yet the car is keeping the pooches safe. No smashed windows needed.
We love Tesla’s ability to update and improve their car’s features over time, and this feature was actually submitted as a feature request to Elon Musk directly, check out the tweet below.
Keep your dog comfortable in your car while letting people passing by know they don’t need to worry with Dog Mode. In addition to keeping the climate control on, the touchscreen will display the current cabin temperature. To enable Dog Mode, tap the fan icon at the bottom of the touchscreen when your car is parked. Set Keep Climate On to DOG, make adjustments within temperature limits, then leave knowing your pet will stay comfortable. Dog Mode will stay on after you leave your car. If you your battery reaches less than 20% charge, you will receive a notification on your mobile app.
