Arizona Cardinals safety Tyrann Mathieu filmed himself locked in a hot car to illustrate just how bad it is when dog owners do the same to their pets.

The NFL baller sweated it out in the Arizona heat for 8 minutes in a recent PSA for PETA - The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.  And for this reason, Mathieu is the SportLeash SUPER ATHLETE OF THE WEEK!

After just two minutes, the car's heat was already measured at 97 degrees only before skyrocketing to 120 degrees 8 minutes in! - And by that point, Mathieu couldn't take it anymore.

"If you're going to make a dog a part of your family, then make him a part of your family," Mathieu said, "don't treat him like you wouldn't treat someone you cared about or someone you loved."

In addition to conveying a powerful message to dog owners everywhere, the video also shows how quickly heat rises inside a closed car on a hot day - to temperatures far greater than whatever the temperature may be outside.  Dogs left in these conditions can get heat stroke and die in as little as 15 minutes.  In Alabama last month, a police dog died after his handler accidentally left him in a patrol car on a hot 87 degree day.

Check out the PSA for yourself - and remember to take responsible care of your pups!

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