As the temperature rises, so do the risks for pets. That’s the message from BC SPCA as the organization ramps up efforts to raise awareness about the hazards and potentially fatal consequences involved when mixing animals and summer heat.
Many people like to take their dogs with them to the beach or on errands but it can be risky to take a canine friend in a vehicle. Temperatures inside a parked car at this time of year, even one that’s in the shade, can climb well above 38 degrees celsius. Dogs can withstand high temperatures for only a very short time before suffering irreparable brain damage or even death.
Powell River SPCA’s volunteer branch manager Audrey Hill said complaints are received locally “on a fairly frequent basis” and that the stress involved can be taxing not only on animals but bystanders as well, among whom emotions can run high.
“I can’t tell you how stressed out and how emotional people get,” she said. In some cases, tow trucks have even been called to access animals inside a vehicle and charges have been handed down for not only towing fees and veterinary services but also animal cruelty and even disturbing the peace.
Powell River SPCA has equipped local RCMP and Powell River Town Centre Mall security staff with a thermometer on a string that can be slid through a car window to measure a vehicle’s temperature. “That should be really helpful to our RCMP and bylaw officers,” said Hill, adding that many people return to their overheated pet in denial of how extreme the internal temperature of their vehicle actually is.
“Dogs can die after just 10 minutes in a hot car,” said Craig Naherniak, BC SPCA humane education general manager. “It’s much kinder and far safer to leave your friend in a cool environment.”
Hill echoed that sentiment. “Around the shopping areas [in Westview], shade is definitely hard to find,” she said, “but if you have to take your dog with you then please find some shade and ensure it’s going to stay in the shade for the length of time you intend to be away from your vehicle.”
BC SPCA recommends the following tips for keeping dogs safe this summer:
• Use caution when running, cycling or rollerblading with pets, as these activities pose serious risks of heatstroke, accidents and anxiety experienced by the animal. Choosing cooler times of day, such as early morning or late evening, and taking plenty of breaks will minimize risks, as will running on soft trails rather than on cement and asphalt, which can burn an animal’s foot pads.
• Always take water and an appropriate container from which a dog can drink.
To avoid potential disaster, it’s helpful to know the signs of heatstroke in pets, which can include exaggerated panting (or the sudden stopping of panting), rapid or erratic pulse, salivation, weakness and muscle tremors, lack of coordination, convulsions or vomiting and collapse.
If a dog is showing symptoms of heatstroke, it is advisable to immediately move the animal to a cool, shady place. Wet the dog with cool water including the head and feet and fan vigorously to promote water evaporation but do not apply ice, as this constricts blood flow which will inhibit cooling. Allow the dog to drink some cool water and finally, take the animal to a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Besides dogs and cats, it’s also important to take good care of small animals such as guinea pigs, rabbits and rats by avoiding putting their cages near windows and being sure to provide shelter and shade if they are enjoying outdoor time. On the hottest days, adding dishes of ice into enclosures will assist in lowering temperatures. And, of course, it is advisable to watch them closely so they don’t become overheated.
To report the sighting of an animal who appears to be in distress in a vehicle on a hot day, readers are encouraged to contact Powell River RCMP at 604.485.6255 or Powell River SPCA at 604.483.3506. More information on pet safety can be found online.
