Image: RCMP supplied image of a dog in a car.

By Fraser Valley Today Staff

Animal health

With the arrival of summer heat, Mounties warn against leaving animals in vehicles

Jul 5, 2024 | 11:30 AM

CHILLIWACK — As temperatures rise, the Upper Fraser Valley RCMP is reminding pet owners not to leave dogs alone in unattended vehicles. Even a short time in a hot car can have harmful, and potentially life-threatening, effects on dogs, who cannot release heat by sweating as humans do. Older pets and those with flatter faces face even greater challenges in hot weather.

Pet owners may think a few minutes in a vehicle won’t be a big deal, but for a dog, their internal body temperature rises quickly, making it best to leave pets at home where there’s more space, water, and shade.

If you see an animal in distress in a parked vehicle, note the license plate, vehicle colour, make and model, and ask managers of nearby businesses to page the owner immediately. If the animal is not showing signs of distress but you are concerned, stay by the vehicle to monitor the situation until the owner returns. If the animal is showing clear signs of heatstroke or other distress symptoms, call your local animal control agency, police, RCMP, or the BC SPCA Animal Helpline at 1-855-622-7722 as soon as possible.

Do not break the window. According to the BC SPCA, only RCMP, local police, and BC SPCA Special Constables have the authority to enter a vehicle lawfully to help a pet in distress. Breaking a window can put yourself and the dog at risk.

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Despite signs indicating that the air conditioning is on, it is not a guaranteed solution as it can stop working. Police say the safest option is to leave your dog at home.