With high summer temperatures now here, the BC SPCA is reminding pet owners that both the heat and the bright sunlight can quickly turn vehicles into an oven, endangering pets that are left in the car for even a few minutes. Heat exhaustion—and in some cases death—can be the result.
“Unless you’re going straight to somewhere to do something with your dog, leave your pet at home,” advises Geoff Urton, senior manager of stakeholder relations with the BC SPCA. If you are just running errands, it’s safest not to bring Fido.
“People think ‘I’m only going into the store for 10 minutes’, and then they get talking and it becomes half an hour,” says Urton. “Dogs have a hard time cooling off. They’re wearing a fur coat all the time, and they don’t perspire.” Dogs can only cool themselves off by panting and by releasing heat through their paws.
They can only withstand high temperatures for a very short time—in some cases minutes—before suffering irreparable brain damage or even death. An animal left in a hot car can overheat in less than 10 minutes; and parking your car in the shade, or leaving the windows partly open, makes little difference to the interior temperature of the vehicle. The air heat soon surpasses the outside temperature.
Increased awareness around the subject of dogs left in hot cars has led to an increase in confrontations between would-be rescuers and pet owners. “Onlookers need to address the situation in a responsible way,” says Urton. Not every dog in every car needs to be rescued, so learn to spot the signs of a dog in distress before acting. Exaggerated panting (or the sudden stopping of panting); salivation; an anxious or staring expression; weakness or muscle tremors; convulsion or vomiting; and being unresponsive to a gentle tapping at the window could all indicate an animal in distress.
Do not agitate the dog by pounding on the window or vehicle or by yelling. Urton recommends going into the nearest store or business and asking someone to make an announcement, giving the description and licence number of the vehicle. This reduces the risk of a confrontation.
If the animal is in distress and the owner cannot be located, call the BC SPCA (between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on weekdays, and between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekends) at 1-855-622-7222. Staff will troubleshoot and help connect you with your local animal control agency or the police. In an emergency, call 9-1-1 for RCMP attendance.
“They can intervene; it’s well within their powers. An SPCA constable can follow up if necessary. Don’t take the situation into your own hands; let the proper authorities handle it,” says Urton. The BC SPCA reminds people that 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.
Keep emergency supplies—bottled water, a small bowl, a towel that can be soaked in water—in your car so you can 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 can also be handy to circulate air.
If your dog shows symptoms of heatstroke, immediately move the animal to a cool, shady place. Wet the dog with cool water, and fan vigorously to promote evaporation. This will cool the blood, which reduces the animal’s core temperature.
Do not apply ice, as this constricts blood flow and will inhibit cooling. Allow the animal to drink some cool water, or lick ice cream if no water is available, and take the animal to a veterinarian as soon as possible for further treatment.
While you might feel guilty leaving your dog at home, particularly if you are used to having it accompany you everywhere, your pet will be much happier—and safer—at home, where it has shade and water. On long summer road trips, plan ahead to make sure stops along the way are safe for your pet. Have someone stay with the dog outside the car while everyone else makes a rest stop or goes to get refreshments, suggests Urton.
“We need to focus on what’s best for animals, and we need to educate people about not leaving dogs in cars.”
