COQUITLAM (NEWS1130) – It should be common sense, but the warm weather of late has led to a reminder that you shouldn’t leave your pet in a car.
Coquitlam RCMP had to attend three separate complaints yesterday.
In the worst of the three cases, RCMP Corporal Jamie Chung says a dog was left in a vehicle while the owner went shopping just before noon.
Chung says the dog is okay, but the owner faces a possible fine.
“We think that is very unacceptable on a hot day like this, even several minutes in a vehicle with windows down could be harmful to your dog.”
The BCSPCA’s Lorie Chortyk says parking in the shade or leaving a car window open may not be enough for your pet. “A lot of people don’t realize that when they leave their dog in a car, it just becomes an oven on a hot day.”
The SPCA says on a hot day, the temperature in a car can make it impossible for dogs and cats to cool down, putting your pet at risk of serious harm or death.