Police across B.C. have been reminding residents that as the weather heats up, not to leave pets in cars.
But it appears one Vancouver woman has still not gotten the message.
Vancouver police were called to Robson Street on Thursday night after passersby noticed three dogs inside a car. They were barking and trying to get out of the window and their behaviour attracted a number of people, who eventually called police.
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One viewer told Global News the dogs had been there for at least an hour.
The dog owner eventually returned to the vehicle and claimed her animals were not under duress.
Global News has reached out to Vancouver police for comment but have not yet heard back.
On an average summer day, police say the inside of a parked vehicle can reach a dangerously high temperature of over 38 C in minutes, even if the vehicle is parked in a shaded area with windows partly open. Even 10 minutes can be too long for a dog or a child inside to withstand the heat.
Police say the following checklist should be followed before calling the police or animal control:
- Is the car parked in the sun or shade?
- Are the windows down and does the animal have air flow?
- How long have you observed the animal?
- Does it have any water?
- Have you gone into nearby stores and tried to locate the owner/driver?
- What is the dog doing- panting, laying down, barking?
If you observe an animal panting, shaking uncontrollably, acting lethargic and appearing to be uncoordinated, then this may be a critical situation requiring police or animal control. Police say if a vehicle needs to be broken into and animal control has been called, they will contact a local tow company to open a locked door. Police officers if warranted, can break a window and remove the animal, but this will always be a last resort and only done to save the life of the animal.
READ MORE: Should pets be allowed in air-conditioned stores during heatwave?