As an orange-level air quality warning remains in effect for Toronto and much of southern Ontario, pet owners are being reminded to keep an eye on their four-legged friends as wildfire smoke covers the city. Dr. Karen Ward, chief veterinary officer at the Toronto Humane Society, spoke to CP24 Wednesday evening and said there are some common mistakes pet owners make when smoky conditions creep in. She said taking your dogs outside or leaving your windows open are chief among them. “When the air quality is poor, if it is hard for us to breathe, it’s going to be hard for our animals,” she said. Animals with short snouts, brachycephalics, like pugs, French bulldogs, Boston terriers and pekingeses are particularly at risk, she said. Owners should monitor their dogs eyes for redness or irritation as smoky conditions persist, she said, adding that they could experience difficulty breathing or lethargy due to the poor air quality. Ward said the Toronto Human Society has a number of brain and enrichment games for dogs available on their website while they remain indoors. “Scent games, training games, food puzzles. There’s all kinds of things you can do to keep them mentally engaged indoors, and that can be as tiring as physical exercise,” she said. The Ontario SPCA previously told CTV News that it is preparing to assist families who have been displaced by the wildfires in northern Ontario. The organization says it is working with the Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response and northern Ontario rescue partners to support evacuees with pets if needed. With files from CTV News’ Julianna Balsamo
