With the hot weather finally here, its another reminder from the Kamloops SPCA to not leave your pets in your vehicle.

Lisa Fuller, the Interim Community Engagement Manager says people are becoming more aware about the need to not leave your pets in a hot vehicle, but she says they could always use a reminder.

“Even on overcast days, we have to remember that in a car, everything heats up, and so if you’re sitting even in the shade or with the window open, your seats are heating up and the air is heating up, and so it can reach really dangerous temperatures in a very short period of time,” she said on The Jeff Andreas Show.

“In about ten minutes, your car temperature can reach 37 C to 43 C. In that case, it only takes a matter of five to ten minutes before some serious damage and even death can occur to an animal in a hot car.”

Fuller notes if you are running errands, its best to your pets at home where they have more space, water, and shade.

“You might even leave your air conditioning on in your car thinking that’s okay, but things break down and sometimes its stops working,” she said. “I just say avoid making any errands. And if you are taking your dog to the lake or to the river to cool off, make sure that they are not unattended for any reason at any time.”

Already this year, a Kamloops woman told NL News that she was horrified to find two big dogs left in a hot car yesterday for more than half an hour at the Canadian Tire in Aberdeen.

Fuller says if you come across an animal in distress inside a vehicle to call animal control, the RCMP or the SPCA immediately.