Hamilton police say a 31-year-old man has been charged after leaving his dog inside his hot car for nearly an hour.
Jackie Penman, Hamilton police spokesperson, told CBC Hamilton officers responded to a call at noon Wednesday at Charlton Medical Centre.
She said it was a medium-sized dog. Police didn’t describe the dog’s breed or age.
Police say the temperature outside was 24 C, but the temperature in the car was a “dangerous” 38 C.
“The dog had been in the vehicle for nearly an hour,” police said in its post on X.
Police say the dog is safe and the owner, a 31-year-old man, was charged under the Animal Welfare Services Act for causing an animal distress.
CBC’s climate dashboard says he maximum temperature will be 32 C over the next few days, which is 8 C above average.
Signs to watch for in pets during hot weather
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) recorded 163 animal deaths in hot cars as well as 855 rescues last year in the U.S.
It notes many cases go unreported.
The organization said people should keep their pets at home.
Dogs, for example, only sweat through their footpads and cool themselves by panting, which makes it harder for them to cool down.
PETA’s website also says heatstroke can happen in minutes — even if the window is partially rolled down, if the car is in the shade or if there is water left in the vehicle.
Symptoms of heatstroke include restlessness, heavy panting, vomiting, lack of energy, and lack of appetite or coordination.
The City of Hamilton’s website also says the heat in a car can increase by at least 10 degrees in under 10 minutes.
“Left in a car on a hot day, your pet can suffer from heatstroke or heat exhaustion in as little as 10 minutes,” the website says.
“As the heat rises, pets can go into organ failure, coma and eventually death.”
What to do if you see a pet in a hot car
The city says people should leave their pets at home.
If you see a pet in a hot vehicle, the city encourages people to:
- Call Hamilton police at 911
- Call Provincial Animal Welfare Services (PAWS) at 1-833-926-4625
- Call Hamilton Animal Services at 905-574-3433
- If you’re at a shopping mall, you can contact mall security to see if they can page the owner of the vehicle back to the car.