BRANT COUNTY, ON) – The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), County of Brant want to remind all pet owners to never leave your pet unattended in a hot motor vehicle.
On Sunday, July 26 2015 at approximately 1:45pm, members of the County of Brant OPP were contacted by concerned citizens regarding a dog that had been left inside a parked pick-up truck on Grand River Street North in Paris.
Police attended the location and located a dog inside the Ford F-150 pick-up truck. The dog was taken from the vehicle to the County of Brant OPP detachment and held there until the owner was located.
This could have been deadly consequences for this pet. If it’s too hot for you to sit inside the vehicle then it’s too hot for your pet.
On a day where the temperature is 26 degrees Celsius, the temperature inside a vehicle parked in the shade reaches 32 degrees Celsius. If you leave your motor vehicle in the sun the temperature can reach 71 degrees Celsius. This is extremely hot and can have devastating effects on your pet.
Dogs and cats pant to cool themselves, but this is ineffective when they are surrounded by heat. On summer days the air and upholstery in your vehicle can heat up to high temperatures that make it impossible for pets to cool themselves. Your pet will be more comfortable if it is left at home. A domesticated pet is dependent on the owner for proper care such as food, shelter and water.
The Criminal Code of Canada has specific sections that deal with the mistreatment of animals:
Cause unnecessary suffering – maximum sentence of 5 years in jail
Injure or endanger an animal – maximum sentence of 5 years in jail
Neglect an animal – maximum sentence of 2 year in jail
If you see an animal in a vehicle on a warm or humid day who you believe may be in distress gather as much information as you can. Obtain the make, model and licence plate number of the vehicle, and immediately contact police.
Anyone with information regarding any incident is asked to call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or 911. Should you wish to remain anonymous you can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or leave an anonymous online message at www.crimestoppers-brant.ca where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.