SPCA urges pet owners to be 'extra vigilant' during heatwave

Wednesday, 30 January 2019

One dog died in Northland this month after being locked in a hot car. The SPCA does not want to see any more suffer during the heatwave (file photo).

The SPCA is urging pet owners to be 'extra vigilant' during the current heatwave after a raft of animal welfare complaints.

SPCA inspectors were busy throughout the country, responding to heat-related complaints, an SPCA spokeswoman said.

Most involved animals being left without shade or water, or dogs left locked in cars.

'A heatwave like this can be a life or death situation for your pets and I'm urgently appealing to all pet owners to please listen when we say: don't leave your dog in a hot car, please keep your animals safe during the summer months. It is never worth it,' CEO Andrea Midgen said.

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One dog had died in Northland in the past two weeks after being left in a hot car, while a dog in Wellington crawled into the footwell of a car trying to find shade, urinating in distress before it was rescued by inspectors, who smashed a window.

One Tauranga-based inspector had to break a dog out of a car on Tuesday, and Auckland based Inspectors reported a high number of complaints about dogs left in cars over Auckland Anniversary weekend.

Canterbury inspectors had responded to complaints of horses wearing inappropriately heavy rugs, and paddocked animals without access to shade.

With temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius and above, Northland inspectors were seriously concerned about animals in cars and without shade.

Midgen was urging pet owners to be 'extra vigilant' and advised them to make sure their animals had ample water and shelter to be comfortable during the heatwave.

'My key message for anyone going out with their pets this week is to consider: would you put yourself or your family through these conditions? If it's too hot for you to walk along the sand on the beach or on the pavement it will be too hot for your animals. If you can't bear to sit in the car for 10 minutes, neither can your animals.'

She said animals not being cared for in the heat was 'completely preventable' and owners needed to know how much a hot day could affect their animals.

Pet owners should also look out for signs of their animals overheating, which included excessive panting, breathing difficulties, weakness or drooling.

Anyone worried about an animal without water, with no access to shade, or locked in a hot car is encouraged to call their local SPCA immediately.