Humane society reminds people to keep an eye on furry friends

Already this year, the Regina Humane Society has received 37 calls regarding animals in hot cars, including 20 calls in the past month.

“Sadly, this is something we have to talk about every year,” said Bill Thorn, the society’s director of marketing and public relations. “Typically we get over 100 in a year, and one is too many. It’s just so unnecessary.”

This past week, temperatures in Saskatchewan have have hit record highs. Thorn says pet owners should be cautious and, although they love their furry friends, should leave the animals at home.

“The temperature inside of your car can skyrocket in just a couple of minutes,” Thorn said. “People think they can leave the car running and the air conditioning on, but I could show you all kinds of stories of pets that have died when that happened because the air conditioning failed, the engine fails or other things that can happen.

“If you’ve got electric windows in your car, your pets looking for you standing on the armrest of the car, they hit that button, the window can open and they could be gone.

“So it’s just never good idea. You’re not spending the time with your pet anyway if you’re shopping and they’re in the car. Just leave them home. It’s much safer for them. They’ll be more comfortable. As I always say, ‘Why would you do something that could put your best friend in danger like that?’ ”

Thorn explained that pets cannot perspire like humans. Dogs perspire through the pads in their paws, but that becomes more difficult on a hot seat inside a car.

In heat waves, Thorn also says people should look out for warning signs and use common sense.

“If you’re outside and you’re feeling warm, there’s a pretty darn good chance that your pets feeling pretty warm, especially given that they are wearing a fur coat during all this, and you’re probably wearing a nice light shirt and shorts,” Thorn said.

“Keep an eye on your pet. You can still go for a walk, but be aware of what your pet is signalling to you.”

Signs of your pet overheating or heatstroke can include excessive drooling, excessive panting, vomiting, diarrhea or seizures.

“If you notice your pet has any of these sign, it’s time to get inside where it’s nice and cool,” Thorn said. “If you can’t get there right away, get them into some shade under a tree, give them some cool water if possible — not cold water, but cool water — just to try and get their temperature down.

“And if they get to some of those extreme things like the vomiting and diarrhea, it’s a pretty good idea to get ahold of your vet and get them looked at because heatstroke can be damaging, and it can even be fatal.”

When going for a walk, Thorn suggests keeping the walks short and being wary of asphalt and sand.

“Some people say a test is to hold the back of your hand on the surface,” Thorn said. “If it’s too hot for you to hold it there for more than a few seconds, then it’s likely too hot for your pet to walk on as well.

“In those cases, stick to cooler things. Grass is a good example.”

If you see an animal in distress you can call Animal Protection Services at (306) 777-7700 or your local police.