The New Brunswick SPCA is advising pet owners to keep animals out of parked vehicles as extreme heat settles over the province.
Executive director Lesley Rogers said a vehicle can become dangerous within minutes, even during short errands.
“The temperatures go up very, very fast and animals — dogs — don’t have a way to sweat or get rid of the heat. So it just becomes like a big oven,” Rogers said.
Rogers explained that the NBSPCA receives many complaints each summer about pets left in vehicles, and a case last year involving a dog that died in a parked car is now before the courts.
She said owners often underestimate how quickly conditions inside a vehicle can turn dangerous.
She also highlighted common misconceptions continue to put pets at risk, including the belief that parking in the shade or cracking a window is enough to keep a vehicle cool.
“The shade in a parking lot really moves quickly,” she said.
“And cracking a window doesn’t do enough to bring the temperature down.”
Under provincial law, leaving an animal in distress can lead to fines of up to $10,000 and a prohibition on owning animals, according to Rogers.
She said the safest option is to leave pets at home in a cool environment with access to water.
Rogers also encourages owners to limit exercise during periods of extreme heat, avoid hot pavement, and watch for hazards such as spoiled food or drugs left on the ground.
Anyone who sees an animal in distress in a vehicle can contact the NBSPCA’s 24‑hour line at 1‑877‑722‑1522.
If the animal appears to be in severe distress, Rogers says people should call police or the RCMP immediately.
