Hot dogs are not cool — that’s the message from the BC SPCA after Environment Canada issued a special weather statement warning about rising temperatures.
“We can’t stress strongly enough how dangerous it is to leave your pet in a hot car, even for 10 minutes,” says Krista Unser, manager of the SPCA’s Sea to Sky Branch, in a news release.
“Last year, the BC SPCA responded to nearly 1,000 calls about animals in distress in hot cars across the province. The temperature in a parked car, even in the shade with windows partly open, can rapidly reach a level that will seriously harm or even kill a pet.”
In just minutes, the temperature in a parked car can climb to well over 38 C (100 degrees Fahrenheit), according to the organization.
Dogs have no sweat glands, so they can only cool themselves by panting and by releasing heat through their paws, Unser notes.
The animals can withstand high temperatures for only a very short time – in some cases just minutes – before suffering irreparable brain damage or death.
“If you’re used to letting your dog accompany you on errands, you might feel guilty leaving him behind on hot days. But your dog will be much happier – and safer – at home, with shade and plenty of fresh cool water,” Unser said.
If you see an animal you think is in distress, please call the BC SPCA animal cruelty hotline at 1-855-622-7722 during business hours and staff will help connect you with your local animal control or police. In an emergency, call 911.
What to do if you see a dog in distress in a parked vehicle:
* Note the license plate and vehicle information and ask managers of nearby businesses to page the owner to return to their vehicle immediately;
* Call to report the hot dog in car situation if no owner is found or when animal is suffering symptoms of heatstroke. During the daytime, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends, call the BC SPCA animal cruelty hotline at 1-855-622-7722 during business hours and staff will troubleshoot and help connect you with your local animal control agency or police. In an emergency, call 911 for RCMP attendance. Note: It is illegal for members of the public to break a window to access the vehicle themselves; only RCMP and Special Provincial Constables of the BC SPCA can lawfully enter a vehicle. SPCA branch staff and volunteers cannot enter vehicles.
* Keep emergency supplies - bottled water, a small bowl, a towel that can be soaked in water- in your car so that you help hydrate an animal (if a window has been left open) while you wait for emergency response; a battery-powered fan from a dollar store also can be handy to circulate air.
* Be an advocate! Help spread the word that pets and hot vehicles are a fatal mix. Visit spca.bc.ca/hotpets for more information or a colour pdf copy of our “Hot Pets? Not Cool!” infographic to put up in stores, malls and other areas in your community where pets are left unattended in
