It’s the same message, but now that we are headed into a heat wave, the Saskatoon SPCA is once again reminding pet owners to leave their animals at home instead of leaving them in a hot vehicle while you run errands. Last year the Saskatoon SPCA received 194 pets in hot vehicle complaints.

Spokesperson Jasmine Hanson reminds pet owners that leaving an animal in a vehicle is incredibly dangerous. Dogs are more susceptible to heat stroke than humans and have a fur coat to contend with while you are in your summer garb.

Leaving the windows open doesn’t alleviate the risk either. She compares it to cooking a chicken in the oven. When you open the door a bit, it still stays hot in the oven.

For those that leave the vehicle running with the air conditioning on, Hanson says they will still get calls and an Animal Protection Officer will have to respond, taking them away from other animals in need, so it’s still best to leave your pet at home. If you see an animal in a vehicle, call the Saskatoon SPCA immediately at 306-374-PETS.