Workers at a local animal shelter are reminding you to make sure your pets don’t overheat if you bring them with you for a long-weekend road trip.
“Parked cars can quickly reach deadly temperatures, even on relatively mild days with the car parked in the shade and the windows open,” explains Marianne Carlyle from the Ontario SPCA Leeds and Grenville Animal Centre.
“If you can’t take your animal with you,” she adds, “the Ontario SPCA urges you to leave them at home where they are safe.”
Carlyle also suggests you run errands before you leave, travel with someone who can stay in the car with your pet, and use drive-throughs or pack your meals so you don’t leave pets unattended while you eat.
“If you’re taking breaks along the way, remember that hot asphalt can burn your pet’s pads,” Carlyle adds. “Find a cool place in the shade for them to stretch their legs, eat and drink and relieve themselves.”
If you see a pet unattended in a hot car, Carlyle says you should contact Ontario’s Provincial Animal Welfare Services, local police, or 9-1-1 if the animal is in immediate danger.