Tweet sparks debate about rescuing dogs in hot cars

Wednesday, June 1, 2016, 5:42 PM - Every year, animal advocates and safety officials launch public awareness campaigns asking the public not to leave their pets or children unattended in hot cars.

When the temperature is 26 degrees Celsius outside, it can climb to 32 degrees inside a car that's parked in the shade, and 71 degrees if the car is parked in the sun within minutes.

Leaving a child in those conditions can result in fines and jail time, and the same goes for animals.

In Canada, people who leave animals unattended in a car in a manner that risks their health and safety could be charged under a provincial SPCA act and under the Criminal Code of Canada.

Penalties include possible jail time, a lifetime ban against owning animals and up to $60,000 in fines.

But now, an image that has gone viral on social media has sparked a debate about whether or not all animals left in cars are actually in distress:

The image, shared by Twitter user @fioses on May 28, has been shared  more than 57,000 times.

It's not clear when or where the photo was taken (or who the photo was taken by), but the messaging seems to have struck a chord with pet owners and ignited a lengthy debate.

"It doesn't matter if the A/C is running and there is water, the interior will still heat up to dangerous temperatuares in a very short period of time," one user said on the website Motortrend.com.

Other pet owners have jumped in to say there's nothing wrong with leaving a dog in a car if they aren't in danger of over-heating.

"Everyone wants to be hero these days. Go sniffing around my dogs and I'll unleash my pent up rescue rage on you," another user said in a Facebook post in favour of leaving dogs in cars, provided they are comfortable and not in distress.

So -- what should you do if you come across an animal locked in a car on a hot day that doesn't appear to be trouble?

Experts say it's best to monitor the situation and use judgement before reacting.

An RSPCA spokesperson told Metro.co.uk that animal experts would still be concerned for the safety of the animal in the photo above, regardless of the sign attached to the window.

"Some cars are adapted to make animals more comfortable and this may have been the case here," she added.

If you find yourself in a similar situation and are unsure of what to do, keep an eye on the animal and call local animal authorities or law enforcement for a second opinion before attempting to rescue the animal.

Signs of heat stroke in dogs include:

• Panting
• Dehydration
• Excessive drool
• Unconsciousness

Sources: Twitter | Metro

Watch more: Preventing heat stoke, why you should NEVER leave your pet in a hot car