While most people in the Capital Region are happily embracing the first really warm weather of the year, Penny Stone is bracing for the worst.
Victoria police were busy last weekend sending out reminders over social media channels, after receiving calls about pets left in vehicles.
B次元官网网址淚 hate hot days for that reason,B次元官网网址� said Stone, manager of the Victoria branch of the B.C. SPCA. B次元官网网址淎s soon as itB次元官网网址檚 a nice day, everybodyB次元官网网址檚 happy itB次元官网网址檚 a nice day except for the SPCA.
B次元官网网址淚 just canB次元官网网址檛 believe people leave their dogs (in vehicles) in this kind of weather.B次元官网网址�
While temperatures outside hovered in the 20 C range, inside vehicles it likely soared to more than 30 C, Stone said, including those parked in the shade with the windows cracked open.
Within five to 10 minutes of being left in a hot vehicle, dogs can become dehydrated, suffer heat stroke and even die, she said, adding it doesnB次元官网网址檛 have to be hot outside for the temperatures inside to skyrocket.
B次元官网网址淚f your dog doesnB次元官网网址檛 die, it could retain permanent brain damage,B次元官网网址� she cautioned.
B次元官网网址淭hink of sitting in your car in a fur coat in the sun.B次元官网网址�
Some pet owners donB次元官网网址檛 realize their dogs are only able to sweat by panting and through the pads on their feet, limiting their ability to cool down.
B次元官网网址�(Heat stroke) happens so fast,B次元官网网址� Stone said.
B次元官网网址淭he problem is people think that, B次元官网网址業B次元官网网址檓 just going to run in and get a loaf of bread.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
Staff with Victoria Animal Control Services, which operates in Victoria, Esquimalt and Oak Bay, responded to two dogs left in the enclosed bed of a pickup truck Friday afternoon.
B次元官网网址淭hey were sweltering. They were in very poor shape,B次元官网网址� said Ian Fraser, the companyB次元官网网址檚 senior animal control officer.
The cab was finally opened and the owner issued a $300 fine for failing to provide adequate ventilation and water to his pets, which were able to recover.
B次元官网网址淭he animals had defecated inside the back of the truck, an obvious sign of stress,B次元官网网址� said Fraser, who declined to reveal where the truck was parked.
With the onset of summer temperatures, he expects his team will become even busier.
The City of Victoria toughened up its Animal Control Bylaw last October to include an animal welfare section. Under those regulations, fines can be issued to violators who enclose an animal with insufficient ventilation or water, or enclose it where there is no protection from the sun.
Since the bylaw was amended, animal control officers have levied one animal welfare fine in Victoria and issued a number of warnings.
B次元官网网址淏ut I imagine by the end of the summer a number of fines will be issued,B次元官网网址� Fraser said.
emccracken@vicnews.com
