Every year, people are expected to get smarter.
They are expected to learn from the mistakes of others, such as not leaving animals in hot vehicles to die.
And yet, every year more animals are left to die in suffocating temperatures.
Photo courtesy BC SPCA
Which is why the BC SPCA has to launch a #NoHotPets campaign to urge dog owners to keep their pets safe at home. The campaign includes information on the dangers of dogs in hot cars, steps to take if you see an animal in distress and free car decals people can request to help spread the word and save lives.
鈥淓very year our constables receive hundreds of calls to rescue dogs in distress in hot vehicles,鈥� said Lorie Chortyk, general manager of communications for the BC SPCA, in a news release. 鈥淪adly, some dogs have already died by the time we are called. It is so tragic because it is a completely preventable death.鈥�
Chortyk says many dog owners don鈥檛 realize how quickly their cars can become a death trap for their pet. 鈥淓ven on a cloudy day, parked in the shade with the windows rolled down, a vehicle can reach temperatures that put animals in peril in just 10 minutes,鈥� she says. 鈥淒ogs can鈥檛 release heat from their bodies in the same way that humans can 鈥� they can only dissipate heat by panting and through the pads of their paws - so their internal temperatures reach dangerous levels very quickly.鈥�
Chortyk says even leaving the air conditioning on in a car is no guarantee that your pet is safe. 鈥淭hese systems have been known to break down, with tragic results.鈥�
The BC SPCA encourages people to take the following steps in they see an animal in a hot car:
- Note the license plate, vehicle colour, make and model and ask managers of nearby businesses to page the owner to return to their vehicle immediately.
- If the animal is in distress, call the police, RCMP, local animal control agency or the BC SPCA call centre at 1-855-622-7722 as soon as possible. The call centre is open seven days a week, Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, and Saturdays and Sunday between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Emergencies outside of those hours should be reported to your local police department or RCMP.
鈥淲e also encourage people to keep our call centre number in their phones so they can access it easily if they see an emergency situation,鈥� says Chortyk. 鈥淢embers of the public should not attempt to break a window to free a pet themselves. Not only can this be dangerous for the animals if they are struck by glass, but it is also illegal and puts the Good Samaritan on the wrong side of the law.鈥�
To learn more and to order your #NoHotPets decal, visit .
