Take the Pledge & Get a Window Sticker
As the summer weather rolls on, so do concerns over people leaving their pets in hot cars. The BC SPCA has already received hundreds of calls about dogs in distress in hot cars.
Take our pledge to never leave a pet in a hot car and we will mail you a #NoHotPets sticker so you can show your support and help spread the word.
Take the pledge & get a sticker »
What To Do If You See a Pet in a Car
- Note the license plate, vehicle colour, make and model and ask managers of nearby businesses to page the owner to return to their vehicle immediately.
- If the animal is in distress, call your local animal control agency, police, RCMP or the BC SPCA hotline at 1-855-622-7722 as soon as possible. The call centre is open seven days a week, Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, and Saturdays and Sunday between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Emergencies outside of those hours should be reported to your local police department or RCMP.
What Not To Do
While most people mean well when they say they’d be willing to break a glass window to get an animal out of a roasting vehicle, it’s strongly recommended you don’t.
Only RCMP, local police, and BC SPCA Special Constables have the authority to enter a vehicle lawfully to help a pet in distress. Not only are you putting yourself at risk when you break a glass window, but you also risk harming the dog – which Eileen Drever, BC SPCA senior animal protection officer, might make the pup more nervous. “Glass shards strewn along the seat of the vehicle can lead to pieces in paws and fur, and could end up cutting the animal in the process.”