It is a warning that unfortunately has to be repeated again and again “Never leave your pets locked inside a vehicle when it is hot outside”.

Dogs can become distressed very quickly as temperatures inside a vehicle can be more than 10 degrees hotter than outside temperatures and even higher if the windows on the vehicle are closed.

In a recent incident at the Forks in Winnipeg, a dog was found locked inside a Peg City Co-op vehicle that had been parked in the sun. The temperature outside the vehicle was 26 c. The windows on the vehicle were closed.

As passersby noticed the dog, several calls were made to Peg City Co-op, Winnipeg Animal Services and other agencies out of concern for the wellbeing of the animal. The dog was noticeably panting and over the course of several minutes became more and more distressed.

Security at the Forks did their best to locate the driver and told News 4 that this week alone they had to deal with three other incidents involving animals left in vehicles.

After more than 15 minutes away from the vehicle the driver returned and showed little remorse for her actions. She claimed that she had only been away from the vehicle for three minutes. When told her dog was showing signs of distress she said “It’s ok, I’ll turn on the air.” At no time did she check on the dog.

In Winnipeg, the City of Winnipeg’s responsible pet ownership bylaw forbids animals to be left in unattended vehicles when temperatures are above 22c or below -10c. Drivers who leave their dogs in vehicles in these conditions face a fine of $500.

In this particular incident it is likely that the dog would recover from its owner’s neglect.

Manitoba has a number of guidelines on its website for those who come across pets left in vehicles. See the link below

• What to do if you find a pet left in a vehicle

If you see an animal left in a locked vehicle on a warm day contact your local animal welfare enforcement agencies to report the situation and have an animal protection officer attend or call your local police non-emergency number.

Winnipeg

Winnipeg: call the Winnipeg Humane Society Emergency Line at (204) 982-2020

Winnipeg Police Service (Non-Emergency) (204) 986-6222

Anywhere in Manitoba

Anywhere in Manitoba (including Winnipeg): contact the Animal Care Line at 204-945-8000 or 1-888-945-8001 (toll-free)