As the scorching summer temperatures continue to rise, the danger of leaving pets in hot vehicles remains a serious concern.
Veterinarian Sylvia Wiebe, owner of Sylvia Wiebe Veterinary Services, elaborated on the serious consequences that may occur.
“The worst thing is they’re going to die because of overheating,” she stated. “They just can't cool themselves down anymore, so, they will eventually die.”
She added that other serious health issues that may arise include dehydration and cardiovascular problems.
Dr. Wiebe also highlighted the speed at which animals can be affected in a hot vehicle, explaining that typically, anything over 15 minutes can pose a risk. However, pinpointing an exact time is challenging, as several factors such as temperature and the animal's health play a role.
Determining the critical temperature at which it becomes dangerous for pets, Dr. Wiebe admitted she didn't have an exact figure. "Anything that's going to be over 25 degrees Celsius," she explained.
Dr. Wiebe advised against leaving pets in vehicles whenever possible to avoid these life-threatening situations. However, she recognized that some circumstances might require pets to be in a vehicle, adding that in this case, owners should leave windows open and ensure the vehicle's air conditioning functions correctly.
An incident recently brought to Dr. Wiebe's attention involved a client whose vehicle automatically shut off after 15 minutes as a built-in safety feature. While this was initially unknown to the owner, the pet was fortunate to be unharmed.
Dr. Wiebe noted the importance of pet owners familiarizing themselves with their vehicle's features to prevent similar incidents.
Gary Christopher, a general duty constable with the Swift Current City RCMP, also weighed in on the issue.
Christopher noted that it can be difficult to tell if a dog is distressed due to each dog's different nature and behaviours. However, there are steps onlookers can take if they are concerned.
If a concerned citizen comes across an animal in distress, Christopher advised seeking assistance from nearby stores with public address systems to locate the owner. The concerned individual can call the RCMP if the owner is not located.
“They can definitely call us through either 310 RCMP or directly to the office at (306)778-4870 and give us the details,” he elaborated. “Make and model of car, the license plate of the car, and we'll come out to assess the situation to see if we can locate the owner. We might even have a phone number in our police database.
“Under no circumstances will we ever suggest anybody break a window, because you will be held liable for mischief, and you can be charged for causing damage to a vehicle.”
He added that police may break a window under extenuating circumstances, however, in the last four years, Swift Current City RCMP have not needed to enforce these measures.
Anyone that is caught leaving an animal in an overheated car could face charges and fines under Saskatchewan’s Animal Protection Act.
Under the act, no person responsible for an animal shall cause or permit the animal to be or to continue to be in distress.