Pet safety at top of mind for BC SPCA as temperatures soar
The BC SPCA is offering tips to pet owners on how to keep their four-legged friends safe as the temperature rises.
The animal advocacy organization says the most important tip of all is never to leave animals in cars.
"Our call centre gets calls all summer long about dogs in hot cars," said BC SPCA Victoria branch manager Emma Hamill.
"Even for a short amount of time, a dog in a locked car, even with the windows down a little bit, it too hot and they can go into heat stroke and cardiac arrest really quickly."
Hamill says if you are outside with you dog, be sure to watch for signs of distress like lethargy and heavy panting. She says if your dog is showing signs it is too hot, you should immediately get your pet inside because it's time to cool them down.
"In extreme cases you’ll see them start to vomit and we want to prevent it from getting to that point," she said.
Hamill says there are ways you can make cooling your pet fun. She says one way is to freeze some of your pet’s favourite treats in ice-cube trays as a cool snack for them to enjoy.
"Make it fun, whether you have a kiddie pool in your backyard or just a fan, there’s a lot of fun ways to keep them cool," said Hamill. "The main thing is that you are really safe and your pets are too."
WALKS
The organization says another way to minimize your pets discomfort during the heat of summer is to adjust when you go for a walk.
Walking your dog in the early morning or late evening when the pavement isn’t as hot helps avoid the impact of the heat.
"Before you take your dog out, take your bare foot, put it on the pavement for five seconds and if it's too hot for you, it is too hot for them," said Hamill.
"Their paws are really sensitive and that’s how they cool themselves down because that’s where they sweat from so make sure it isn’t too hot for them," she said.
Hamill says the best way to keep your pets cool and safe is to keep them indoors during the mid-day, when temperatures are at their hottest.
"Make sure they are kept in cool areas inside," said Hamill. "Have you blinds closed, have your air-conditioning on if you have it, and make sure your pets are safe because they can overheat so quickly."
More information on pet care during the summer can be found on the BC SPCA website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
First court appearance for boy and girl charged in death of Halifax 16-year-old
A girl and a boy, both 14 years old, made their first appearance today in a Halifax courtroom, where they each face a second-degree murder charge in the stabbing death of a 16-year-old high school student.