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Leaving your pet in a car for even 10 minutes on a hot summer day can be enough to have an impact on your pet’s heath. A bowl of water and lowered windows can help temporarily but your animals can still suffer a heat stroke in a short period of time. If the temperature is above 30 degrees or if you find the weather hot, leave your pets at home. It’s not worth the risk.
The following are some incidents that have been reported in the past few weeks:
June 29 – Calgary, AB
Dog owner receives ticket after animal bylaw officers find dog in vehicle for over 45 minutes in store parking lot. Outside temperature had reached approximately 30 degree Celsius when the animal was discovered. Officers considered breaking a window despite one window being slightly open but the owner arrived before any glass was broken.
July 9 – Toronto, ON
Photographer finds chihuahua locked in sports car and alerts police officers. The dog had reportedly been in the car for a day and a half. The dog owner was charged with cruelty and the animal was released back to the owner.
July 15 – Barrie, ON
Local police and SPCA investigate after receiving a call about a panting dog spotted in parked car at a local mall. The animal had reportedly been in the car for forty minutes. SPCA determined the animal was not in distress following an examination upon the owner’s return. The owner was cautioned about leaving the animal alone in the heat.
July 16 – White Rock, BC
A concerned passerby at a park calls police and SPCA officials after noticing a dog barking in a pickup truck for more than an hour in twenty-one degree weather. Officials remained on scene until the owner returned. Investigators discussed the dangers of leaving a dog in a hot car with the owner and warned that if an animal is in distress, charges can be laid and the animal can be seized. The animal was not deemed in distress by the officials and therefore no charges were laid.
