The BC SPCA is reminding people not to leave your pets in your vehicle during the hot summer months, telling people to leave your pets at home if you’re out running errands.

Spokesperson Lorie Chortyk says dogs don’t have the same kind of sweat glands as people, so they can’t release heat from their body in the same way. That, she says, can cause their internal temperatures to rise very quickly.

“We know people love their pets. People don’t want anything terrible to happen to them. But with temperatures rising across the province right now, the SPCA is definitely concerned about the safety of pets being left in parked vehicles,” she said, on NL Newsday.

Chortyk says the SPCA responded to more than 800 calls for dogs in parked cars last year, noting that number does not include calls that would have been made to police or other animal service agencies.

A “dangerous” heat warning is in place for much of the province with temperatures in the Kamloops area expected to reach 40 C tomorrow, June 26, before climbing to 41 C from Sunday to Wednesday.

Interior Health says temperatures in a parked car can rise to 52 C within 20 minutes when the temperature outside is 34 C.

Chortyk says it doesn’t seem to matter how many times the SPCA and other agencies tell people to not leave pets in a hot vehicle, there are some people that still don’t get the message.

“It definitely is a real issue,” she said. “Even if you leave your pet for a few minutes and your car is in the shade and your windows are open, that car can become an oven so quickly for those animals.”

If you see a pet in a hot vehicle, you’re asked to call the BC SPCA at 1-855-622-7722.