West Australian dog owners are being urged to leave their four-legged friends safely at home as the state faces a week of expected sweltering temperatures.
RSPCA WA reported 123 heat-related cruelty complaints had been made to the organisation since 1 December, with the latest prompting inspectors to attend a parked vehicle with two dogs confined inside.
Over the weekend, RSPCA WA inspectors attended a shopping centre carpark in an outer Perth suburb after receiving a report about the two small-breed dogs who were confined in a vehicle.
The outside temperature was 41 degrees at the time.
Astoundingly, the owners told the inspector that they had discussed whether to leave the dogs in the car, or if one of them should stay with them with the aircon on. They chose to both go shopping, attending different stores to speed up the process.
RSPCA WA Inspector Team Leader Genna Haines said while it seems the message might be getting through, this instance shows some people continue to make decisions that endanger their dogs.
"In this instance the dogs were okay, but dog owners need to remember that regardless of whether you're gone for just a short time of if the car is in the shade, the situation can turn deadly in a matter of minutes," she said.
"Clearly, people are listening to the dangers but now it's up to everyone to follow the advice and not bring their dogs to shopping centres, otherwise I'm afraid of what we might have to attend this week.
"Even on a mild day, the temperature inside a parked car can climb to 60°C in a very short space of time.
"That is too hot for a dog to endure. Even the shortest spells can leave them with heatstroke or permanent organ damage.
"We do not want to be called out to anymore dogs in heat distress or worse this week.
"Our message is simple – if you love your dog, leave them at home. A quick visit to the shops could cost your dog their life. Don't put your dog's life at risk."
If you see a dog in a hot car:
- Identify signs of heatstroke
- Note down the vehicle's registration number and location and report it immediately to the RSPCA Cruelty Hotline on 1300 278 358 (1300 CRUELTY) or call WA Police on 131 444.
- If you're at a shopping centre, ask the centre management to page the owner of the vehicle by reading out the registration details.
- Keep an eye on the dog until help arrives but maintain a suitable distance to ensure you don't agitate the dog, which could cause further distress, making the dog even hotter.
- Gather as much evidence as possible (vehicle details, time and date, photos of the dog in the vehicle).
RSPCA WA is reminding people that it's an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2002 to cause unnecessary harm to an animal.
Offenders can be prosecuted and face up to five years in prison and a $50,000 fine.
The RSPCA relies on the community to report incidents of suspected cruelty and neglect. Report cruelty 24/7 on 1300 CRUELTY (1300 278 358) or at online here.
