Now that the heat is here to stay, reminders are going out to all dog owners to never leave your pet on your vehicle, even for a few minutes. 
Ontario SPCA agent Ryan Sparks says dogs can’t sweat, and cars trap heat very quickly.
“A car doesn’t have the insulation like our homes do, it traps the heat and keeps it in there” Sparks says. “Even if it is in the shade on a normal day when it’s 25 degrees Celsius, in the shade a car can get up, within 10 minutes, to 32 degrees.”
A dog’s normal body temperature is 39 Celsius. Sparks says once it reaches 41 degrees they aren’t able to pant enough to cool themselves down, which can lead to brain damage or death.
Sparks says pavement can get quite hot as well. He recommends checking pavement temperatures with the back of your hands before heading out on a walk, and if it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws.
If you see an animal left alone in a parked vehicle, call 310-SPCA (7722), 519-384-3647, or Chatham-Kent Police immediately.