With the very warm temperatures, a reminder from the New Brunswick SPCA, that hot cars and pets don’t mix.

Chief Animal Protection Officer Tony Porter says they receive dozens of calls a week about dogs left in vehicles, “When we get there or when the police get there, the vehicle is usually gone, but we track the license plate number and try to track down the owner to check on the dog. I know, for some pet owners it is difficult to leave them at home, but you really should on hot days. It’s a lot safer and it’s better for them than to be exposed to severe temperatures in a vehicle.  Twenty-four degrees isn’t overly hot outside, but in a vehicle that can be. It can increase the temperature within an hour to 48 degrees inside a car, whether the windows are down or not.”

The NB SPCA has launched the ‘Hot Dog Campaign’, which is for education and awareness to protect dogs from the detrimental effects of hot cars.

In 2022, the New Brunswick SPCA received 218 calls on their 24/7 hotline about dogs that were locked in hot cars.

If you see a dog in a vehicle, Porter says you shouldn’t take matters into your own hands, “You can call our reporting line at 1-877-722-1522 and it goes to the emergency dispatch. We’ll dispatch an officer working in that area of the province, or call the local police or RCMP because usually, they can get there quicker than we can.”

The goal of the campaign is to remind pet owners of how dangerous a hot car can be and the potential risks this summer, “It seems to be that our summers are heating up more each year and it’s just dangerous for pets. We love our pets and want to keep them healthy,” Porter adds.