‘Potentially fatal consequences’: Don’t be a moron and leave your dog in a hot car

It’s an annual reminder that some may roll their eyes at, but the numbers show why it’s still necessary.

In 2025, there were over 600 calls to the BC SPCA Animal Helpline about animals in hot cars. That number is already at 143 in 2026 and expected to rise rapidly with the temperatures.

“People underestimate how quickly a vehicle can heat up to dangerous levels, putting animals at risk of potentially fatal consequences,” explains Eileen Drever from the BC SPCA.

“Temperatures inside a car parked in direct sunlight can more than double in minutes so even just ‘running a quick errand’ can have a devastating outcome.”

While leaving the air conditioning on, rolling down the windows or parking in the shade may seem adequate, the BC SPCA says those aren’t reliable or recommended solutions.

“If the air conditioning fails, for example, your pet could be suffering while you think they are resting comfortably in the back seat,” notes Drever. “The best and safest solution is always to leave your dog at home.”

Many are unsure about what to do when they come across a dog or other animal sitting in a hot parked car, so the BC SPCA has shared some tips for dealing with the situation.

What to do:

• Take note of the time, license plate, vehicle colour, make and model and connect with nearby businesses to have the animal owner paged to return to their vehicle immediately.
• Contact your local animal control agency, police department or RCMP, or the BC SPCA Animal Helpline at 1-855-622-7722 as soon as possible if the animal is showing signs of heatstroke – in dogs this can look like exaggerated panting, lethargy, heavy drooling, an anxious or staring expression, difficulty breathing, muscle tremors or lack of coordination, restlessness, convulsions, vomiting, collapse.
• Relay location information of the car including city, address, and landmarks, especially if the vehicle is in a busy parking lot.
• Cover the vehicle’s windshield with a towel or a blanket if one is available to you. This helps act as a temporary thermal barrier but should only be used in emergency situations and not relied on to keep pets safe under normal circumstances.

What NOT to do:

• We understand life is busy, but do NOT ignore an animal exhibiting signs of heatstroke. Even simply passing along information to a nearby business or authority can help save a life.
• Do NOT break the window. Only RCMP, local police, and BC SPCA Special Provincial Constables have the authority to enter a vehicle lawfully to help a pet exhibiting signs of heatstroke.
• Do NOT confront the animal owner.
• Do NOT force water down the animal’s throat.

“When people say they would break a glass window to help an animal out of a hot car, we know they are coming from a place of compassion, but it can really escalate an already dangerous situation,” Drever says.

"Not only are you putting yourself at risk by breaking a window, but you also risk harming the animal. Reach out to a local authority with both the appropriate training and power to act under the law instead.”