It's that time of year when dog owners must be extra vigilant when it comes to having their pets inside vehicles.
The Delta Community Animal Shelter wants to remind dog owners about the perils of keeping their animals in a hot car, even if it's just for a few minutes.
Rolling a window down just a little bit doesn't do enough to let hot air out of a car, which can have its inside temperature double within a few minutes.
Noting they get one or two calls daily during the summer from people concerned about dogs left in vehicles, shelter manager Sarah Lowe said enforcement officers will assess if an animal has access to water, if the car is parked in the shade, how far down the windows are rolled and how the dog is responding to the situation.
"If we are concerned we attempt to have Delta police attend to assist us with opening the vehicle so we can remove the animal from the situation," she explained.
"We carry thermometers in our trucks so we can take the temperature of the dog ... and we carry towels and water so the dog can be cooled from the outside of its body with cold, wet towels, and then we let it drink room temperature water.
Cold water can shock the system.
"But all of this can be prevented by having dog owners leave their dogs at home," Lowe said.
Noting owners face a $175 fine and could have their animals seized, Lowe said Delta's animal control bylaw has a provision for entering "any locked or unlocked vehicle containing a domestic animal that is or appears to be in imminent danger of substantial harm or death, or that is or appears to be suffering for the purposes of rescuing..."
Lowe added dog owners should always be aware their pets are wearing fur coats, which can make things extra uncomfortable during hot summer days.
"Vehicles heat quickly when left in the sun and you are putting your dog at risk. Dogs that have to be left in the car should be seat belted in or in a carrier with the windows all the way down, parked in the shade and water has to be available - even for short periods of time. But the most ideal situation is to leave your dog at home."
