With heat warnings come reminders of the danger of leaving pets in vehicles

Amid a two-day heat spell with humidex values in the low 40s, London, Ont., animal advocates remind residents to refrain from leaving pets in their cars, even for a short time.

With stifling heat in the forecast for the London region this week, the Humane Society of London and Middlesex and the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) are once again reminding the public about the dangers of leaving animals unattended in vehicles.

The reminder comes amid a two-day heat spell with humidex values in the low 40s which has prompted heat warnings from Environment Canada and the Middlesex-London Health Unit.

Vehicle interiors, even with the windows left open a crack, can become extremely hot within a short period of time, putting animals at risk of heat-related illness, including heatstroke, and possible death. On a 21 C day, the inside of a car can reach 32 C within 10 minutes, and 37 C within 20 minutes, according to Humane Canada.

“We know that people’s intention, often, is to go into a store – it’d be a short period of time – but time elapses very quickly,” said Bonnie Bishop, associate director with the OSPCA.

“The public tends to think that by leaving windows down a crack that that is sufficient to keep the vehicle cool, but we know that cars and vehicles heat up very, very quickly, and even with the windows down a short distance, there’s not enough ventilation and to keep the animal cool.”

According to the OSPCA, dogs have a limited ability to sweat, and even a short time in a hot environment can be life-threatening.

A normal body temperature for a dog is around 39 C, according to the agency. “A temperature of 41 C can be withstood only for a very short time before irreparable brain damage or even death can occur,” an OSPCA blog post reads.