The SPCA says there's been a surge in calls this month about dogs being left unattended inside vehicles in the heat, including a five-month puppy rescued in Wellington.
The poor dog was found in a car with its windows up showing signs of heat distress as temperatures inside the vehicle reached 50C, the SPCA says.
Even with the windows down or with the car in a shady spot, the SPCA says a car can quickly get hot inside, leaving a dog left unattended at risk of heatstroke, irreparable brain damage, and even death.
If it's 21C outside, the SPCA says temperatures inside a car parked in the shade with the windows down can still exceed 31C in less than ten minutes. In 30 minutes, the temperature can hit 40C, and on a hot day, it can reach 50C.
The SPCA's chief executive, Andrea Midgen, says animals being left inside hot vehicles is one of the biggest preventable welfare issues over summer.
"You wouldn't leave a child unattended in a hot car, so I'm asking people to do the same for their furry family members. It's pretty simple; if you love them, don't leave them," says Midgen. "Always take your dog with you when you leave your vehicle, even if it's just for a few minutes, and if you can't do that, please keep them at home."
The SPCA says between November 2020 and March 2021, it received 339 welfare complaints relating to the issue.
People can be issued with a $300 infringement notice if they leave their dog in a hot vehicle and the animal is showing signs of heat distress, such as excessive panting, drooling or hyperventilation, and is trying to seek shade. Owners are also liable for the cost of repairing a car window if SPCA staff are forced to break it to rescue an animal.
"It's frustrating to see animals needlessly suffer like this because their owners don't understand how dangerous it is to leave them in a hot car. Leaving them for even just a few minutes on a warm day while you pop into the shops could have devastating consequences, so just don't do it," says Midgen.
SPCA National Inspectorate Manager Alan Wilson says many people simply don't seem to understand the danger they are putting their pet into.
"Many of these cases involve people who love their dog like a family member and would never want to see them harmed, but they don't seem to understand that the careless decision to leave their pet in the car for even a few minutes could result in tragedy," says Wilson.
"We don't want to see any animal suffer from something that's totally avoidable, so please take your dog with you when you leave the car, or leave them at home."
People who are concerned about an animal that's trapped in a hot vehicle are told to contact Police or SPCA immediately.
