With more people travelling with their pets in general, and on summer holidays, and considering the extreme heat we have experienced in recent years and the air quality issues from wildfires, the Saskatchewan SPCA has some tips to keep your furry friends safe.
Spokesperson Josh Hourie says the advice we have heard for ourselves also pertains to our pets in many cases.
If it’s really hot or there is smoke in the air, take that into consideration when letting your pets outside or taking them for a walk.
He notes that if you have a dog or a cat that has lung issues or difficulty breathing, in particular the breeds with the pushed in noses, limit their outdoor activities when it is smoky.
Hourie adds that birds can also be particularly susceptible.
When it comes to the heat, he reminds pet owners that sidewalks and pavement can get really hot, which can burn the pads of your dog’s paws.
Try to walk your dog in the cooler hours of the day and evening.
On those sunny days, Hourie reminds owners of dogs with white-coloured ears that they are more susceptible to skin cancer,

A safety tip for travelling with your pet is to remember that people aren’t the only ones who should be buckled up.
Hourie says one way to do that is to have your pet in their kennel and have it strapped down.
Or you can get a pet seatbelt. “We recommend that you look for a harness with wide, well-padded straps that will dissipate the impact a bit better in a crash, and find a seatbelt, too, that does not attach to the dog’s collar, because that can lead to some strangulation risk as well.”
Hourie advises not to have pets in the front seat, because they can be injured if an airbag is deployed.
A survey from Allstate Insurance Company of Canada states that 47 per cent of Canadians leave their pets unrestrained in vehicles.
Twenty per cent say their pets move freely in the backseat and five per cent let their pets ride on their laps.
In an accident, your pet can become a projectile inside a vehicle and can be seriously injured and can also injure others.