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July 10, 2024
The City of Edmonton is committed to ensuring the safety of all residents, including pets, during extreme heat. With the extreme weather response activated, it is crucial to remember the impact of hot temperatures on our furry companions.
Heat safety for pets
All pets, especially dogs, are vulnerable to excessive heat. Dogs are often left in vehicles and cannot cool themselves as efficiently as humans, making them particularly susceptible to heatstroke and sunburn.
To ensure pets are safe during hot weather, it's best to leave them at home unless you're heading to a pet-friendly location and returning home immediately.
Even on seemingly cool days, the inside of a car can become dangerously hot in minutes. For instance, when it’s 15°C outside, the temperature inside a car can reach 28°C within 15 minutes.
What to look out for
Health risks for animals include heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Signs of distress include:
- Excessive panting
- Diarrhea
- Drooling
- Weakness, tremors, convulsions
- Vomiting
- Reddening and flushing of the skin on the inside of the ears
- Dry mouth
- Confusion
- Fainting
- Trouble walking
How to help a pet left in a hot car
- Take down the car’s make, model, licence plate number and exact location.
- If the dog is in distress, call 911.
- If the owner can’t be found nearby, call 311 and wait by the car for Animal Control Officers to arrive.
Leaving an animal in a hot car and causing it to be in distress may result in fines or charges under the Animal Protection Act and/or the Criminal Code of Canada.
Statistics on pets in hot cars incidents
- Between May 2024 and July 8, 2024, there have been 49 reported complaints.
- During the same period in 2023, 63 complaints were recorded.
- Over the entire year of 2023, a total of 125 complaints were registered.
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