Nissan Nabs PETA Award for Child-and Dog-Protecting ‘Rear Door Alert’

New System Will Help Protect Vulnerable Living Beings From Horrific Deaths by Heatstroke

For Immediate Release:
August 8, 2017

Contact:
Brooke Rossi 202-483-7382

Already this year, at least 32 children and 40 dogs, and counting, have died after being left inside hot vehicles—but Nissan aims to prevent future deaths with its new Nissan Rear Door Alert, which has now netted the car manufacturer a Compassionate Business Award from PETA.

The new system, which will appear first in the 2018 Nissan Pathfinder, reminds drivers to check the back seat when leaving the car: Drivers who opened a rear passenger door before starting their trip and didn’t open it again after parking the car are alerted by three honks.

“This summer, PETA has received reports of dozens of dogs and children who have died horrific deaths after being left in a parked car,” says PETA President Ingrid Newkirk. “Nissan’s lifesaving Rear Door Alert sets an example of compassion and responsibility for the entire automotive industry to follow.”

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—notes that on a 78-degree day, the temperature inside a parked car can soar to 100 degrees in just minutes. On a 90-degree day, interior temperatures can reach as high as 109 degrees in less than 10 minutes. Dogs and children trapped inside parked cars can quickly succumb to heatstroke, even if a car isn’t parked in direct sunlight.

Dogs showing any symptoms of heatstroke—including restlessness, heavy panting, vomiting, lethargy, lack of appetite, or loss of coordination—should be taken into the shade, given water to drink, and cooled off with a cold towel placed on their heads and chests or immersed in tepid (not ice-cold) water. A veterinarian should be called immediately.

Nissan will receive a framed certificate and delicious vegan Chocolate to the Rescue bars.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.