Distressed, dehydrated dog rescued from hot car in B.C. mall parking lot

A dog bowl and leash are seen in this undated stock image. (Image: Shutterstock)

Police in Metro Vancouver had to smash a vehicle window to rescue a dog recently, prompting a reminder about the dangers of leaving pets in hot cars.

Officers were called to the parking lot of a mall amid a stretch of hot weather in the region that has sent temperatures soaring to record-breaking daily highs, according to the Delta Police Department.

“Members were unable to make contact with the owner and had to break the window to gain access. The Delta Fire Department attended and recorded an interior temperature of approximately 50 C. The dog was dehydrated and required veterinary care before making a recovery,” the social media post from the department said.

An animal cruelty report was filed with the B.C. SPCA, and police are urging pet owners to be aware of how quickly temperatures inside vehicles can become dangerous to animals left unattended.

The B.C. SPCA opened 607 animal protection files pertaining to pets left in hot cars last year, according to the organization.

The non-profit also said people should never take matters into their own hands by trying to rescue an animal.

“When people say they would break a glass window to help an animal out of a hot car, we know they are coming from a place of compassion, but it can really escalate an already dangerous situation. Not only are you putting yourself at risk by breaking a window, but you also risk harming the animal,” the B.C. SPCA said in a statement on its website in advance of the current heatwave.

“Reach out to a local authority with both the appropriate training and power to act under the law instead.”

People who are concerned about an animal in distress should call their local police department or the B.C. SPCA’s animal helpline at 1-855-622-7722.