Tesla Rolls Out New "Dog Mode"

Every year, hundreds of dogs die of heatstroke from being left in cars. Many people think their dogs will be okay while they run into a store for a "quick" errand, however temperatures can rise to over 100 degrees in a matter of minutes.

In an attempt to combat this, Tesla has come out with a new feature called "Dog Mode", available on the Model S, Model X, and Model 3.

In Dog Mode, drivers can control the interior temperature of the car even when the car is turned off. On the large center screen on the dashboard, a message is displayed that notifies people passing by that the driver will be back soon and that the animals are safe. It will also explain that the heat or air conditioning is on, depending on what setting is turned on, and it will show the temperature. The Tesla App will notify the driver if the car's charge drops below 20% so that they can return promptly to their vehicle and keep their animals safe.

Although a smart idea in theory, this new feature has received some criticism from animal charities. Their main concern is that technology can fail, and dogs could die within minutes if that were to happen. They also claim that this promotes the wrong idea to pet owners. Leaving your pets unattended in the car is never a good idea.

If you own a dog and know you need to run some errands where dogs are prohibited, your best bet is to simply leave them at home instead of taking the risk with Tesla's new feature.