Clarissa Molina ‘Dies’ in Hot Car to Highlight Deadly Danger for Dogs in New PETA Latino Video

Even “just a minute” in a hot car can be fatal—and with summer well underway, PETA Latino’s urgent PSA starring actor and personality Clarissa Molina is more important than ever. In a harrowing new silent video, Molina plays the role of a dog stuck inside a car—and the disturbing progression shows her frantically trying to escape before succumbing to deadly heatstroke.

This appeal is an important reminder that humans should never leave dogs in parked cars—not even for a “quick errand”—as temperatures inside cars can soar to triple digits within minutes. In her powerful performance, Molina conveys the rising panic, discomfort, and eventual collapse caused by the unbearable conditions inside hot cars, highlighting the urgency of this life-threatening issue.

This shocking video shows that dogs feel the same suffering as we do when trapped inside a car under the sun,” says Molina. “My friends at PETA Latino and I want to remind the public to never leave dogs inside a hot car. If you see a dog trapped, don’t hesitate to act to save their life.”

Parked Cars Are Death Traps for Dogs

In 2024 in the U.S. alone, at least 111 dogs and other companion animals reportedly died from heat-related causes. (The actual figure is likely far higher, as most deaths go unreported.)

When it’s 75 degrees outside, the temperature inside a parked car can soar to 94 degrees in just 10 minutes, and when it’s 90 degrees outside, the temperature inside a parked car can reach 109 degrees in just minutes. As the temperature climbs, dogs can suffer agonizing deaths in the heat: They go into shock, vomit blood, urinate, suffer from diarrhea, and can experience multi-organ failure, cardiopulmonary arrest, fluid buildup in the lungs, muscle tremors, seizures, unconsciousness, and, finally, death.

“Cracking a window” doesn’t help—heatstroke can happen in just a few minutes, even with the car’s windows partially rolled down. Nor will parking in the shade or leaving water in the vehicle prevent your dog from overheating.

Anyone who sees a dog or a child in a parked car should never leave the scene and should take immediate action. Here’s how to act in these emergency situations:

Watch for heatstroke symptoms such as restlessness, excessive thirst, thick saliva, heavy panting, lethargy, lack of appetite, dark tongue, rapid heartbeat, fever, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and lack of coordination. If a dog shows any of these symptoms, get the animal out of the heat, preferably into an air-conditioned space; douse them with cool (not cold) water on their neck, belly, and paws; then get them to a veterinarian immediately.

• Call emergency authorities.
• Write down the vehicle’s make, model, color, and license plate number, and rush to have nearby stores page the owner. Don’t leave until the situation has been resolved.
• If the authorities are unresponsive or too slow and the dog’s life appears to be in imminent danger, find a witness and take the necessary steps to remove them from the car.

Join Clarissa Molina and Keep Dogs Safe in Hot Weather!

Dogs can’t sweat like humans, so they rely on panting and limited cooling methods to regulate their body temperature—making them especially vulnerable to heatstroke. In addition to never leaving your dog in a parked car, make sure you keep them safe in the heat during all summer activities. Check out—and share—PETA’s potentially life-saving hot weather tips: