Keep pets out of parked vehicles, Richmond RCMP urges

Richmond RCMP is asking drivers to leave their pets at home on warm days rather than bringing them along on errands. The inside of a parked vehicle heats up quickly once the engine is off, even with the windows cracked and even on a day that does not feel especially hot. An animal left inside can move from discomfort to a medical emergency in the time it takes to run a single errand. If you see an animal in distress in a hot vehicle, call 9-1-1. Be ready to give the location, a description of the vehicle including a license plate, and a description of the animal and its condition. ---------------------------------- Video description: A video reminding people to keep their pets out of parked cars in the summer heat. [An RCMP officer speaks to camera. In the background a person wearing a hot dog costume holds a sign that says: “HOT DOG SALE”.] Corporal Frank Bryson “One of our typical summer calls might surprise you…” “Hot Dogs!” [The officer sees the person wearing the hot dog behind him.] “Not those hot dogs!” [The officer carries a dog wearing a hot dog costume.] “I mean these hot dogs. But our furry friends should not be hot, they should just be dogs, and not overheating. Let me explain.” [A woman leaves her car and closes the car door behind her.] “In the summer heat, cars get hot faster than you think.” [A dog pants in the back seat of the car.] [The front window is rolled down a couple centimeters.] [The back window is also rolled down a couple centimeters.] “Even with a window open, your pet can still get fatal heatstroke.” [While panting, the dog lays down, hot.] [The officer speaks to camera.] “To protect your pet, don’t bring them along for errands. Here’s why.” [A woman with her pet dog walks up to a store. Next to the door there is a no pets allowed sign.] [The woman puts the dog in her car and closes the door.] “If you can’t bring them shopping with you, it only takes minutes for a parked car to become too hot for any pet.” [The dog looks through the car window and whines.] [A lady walks by the car and sees the dog.] “In British Columbia, it is illegal to leave your pet in a parked vehicle in extreme temperatures.” [The dog is panting.] [The lady looks around for the owner.] [The lady makes a phone call on her cell phone.] “If you see an animal in distress inside a hot vehicle, please call 9-1-1.” [The lady speaks on the phone.] [An officer arrives and looks in the car window to check on the dog.] “Only emergency personnel are legally allowed to break in to save a pet.” [The officer holds the rescued dog beside the car and speaks with the pet owner.] [The officer speaks to camera while holding the dog. The person dressed in the hot dog costume stands next to the officer and pets the dog.] “Protect your furry friends this summer by keeping them out of hot cars.” [RCMP/GRC copyright notice appears.] [Government of Canada wordmark with a waving Canadian flag appears.] Français :    • La GRC de Richmond rappelle de ne pas lais...