Hot weekend ahead: Don't leave your pet in your car

Friday, May 27, 2016, 5:05 PM - It's going to be a hot weekend for many parts of Canada, particularly southern Ontario, which is forecast to see widespread temperatures near 30°C through the weekend with humidex values into the mid to upper 30s possible.

In light of the sizzling heat, the OPP is reminding pet owners not to leave their animals unattended in a vahicle.

When the temperature is 26 degrees Celsius outside, it can climb to 32 degrees inside a car that's parked in the shade, and 71 degrees if the car is parked in the sun within minutes, the Canadian Press reports.

In Canada, people who leave animals unattended in a car in a manner that risks their health and safety could be charged under a provincial SPCA act and under the Criminal Code of Canada.

Penalties include possible jail time, a lifetime ban against owning animals and up to $60,000 in fines.

"A dog's normal temperature is 39 degrees [and] when they reach 41, they can only withstand that for a small amount of time before there can be brain damage," Lynn Michaud of the Ontario SPCA told the Canadian Press.

"[When] you have that ongoing exposure, it can cause death, and we have had animals die."

If you plan on going out with your dog, experts recommend leaving a person in the vehicle to monitor your animal. If you plan on being out for an extended period, leave your pet at home.

Should you come across an unattended animal locked inside a hot car, contact the OSPCA or police immediately.

Source: Canadian Press