With many beautiful summer days ahead of us, the OPP want to make sure that both you and your pets are able to enjoy them.
Constable Catherine Yarmel with the Killaloe OPP says your first call should always be to the OPP when you see a pet in distress in a hot car. While you may have seen videos on YouTube of people breaking car windows to get a pet out, Yarmel says that isn’t always the best plan of action.
When the police get to the scene, often they will make a call to the Ontario SPCA to see what the next steps should be. “If the situation is serious, the owner could face penalties of animal cruelty,” Yarmel adds. While exact numbers were unavailable, she says the detachment does get multiple calls about distressed pets in hot cars throughout the warmer months.
If you do plan on taking your dog out while you run errands, but know you will have to leave him or her in the car at some point, Yarmel suggests making other arrangements. Whether that means simply leaving your pet at home or dropping it off at a friend or family member’s house. “It can become quite dangerous for pets to be inside a hot vehicle,” she says. “They may experience heat exhaustion, heat stroke or other health issues.”