As Perth and the South West face an unseasonal heatwave this week, RSPCA WA has urged pet owners to leave their pets at home.
The animal welfare charity received 11 reports over the weekend of dogs being left in cars, with temperatures soaring up to 38 degrees. A case involved a dog left in a car while its owner went diving at the beach.
“This is incredibly concerning,” said RSPCA WA Inspector Manager Kylie Green. “We had reports of dogs being left in cars at shopping centres in Midland, Brabham, and Greenfields, a gym in South Lake, a sports centre in Withers, and by the beach at Woodman Point.”
RSPCA WA Inspector Manager Kylie Green is pleading with pet owners to leave their dogs at home. “There is never a good reason to confine your dog in a car,” she said. “Plan ahead and if you can’t involve your dog in an activity, leave them safely at home.”
Ms Green praised those who reported the incidents and took action by contacting shopping centre management or alerting the authorities. But she also expressed disappointment at the continued “poor decision making” by some owners.
“Your dog can die in a parked car in just six minutes. They don’t cool down like we do. Dogs rely on panting to regulate their body temperature, and being trapped in a hot car, even on a mild day, can lead to heatstroke, organ damage, or death,” she warned.
RSPCA WA reminded pet owners of the legal and ethical responsibilities they have under the Animal Welfare Act 2002. Causing unnecessary harm to an animal can result in fines of up to $50,000 or five years in prison.
To keep dogs safe during hot weather, RSPS WA urged owners to leave pets indoors with air-conditioning where possible, ensure ample shade and at least two sources of clean water if pets are outside. Additionally, the organisation noted that pet owners should never tether dogs in areas exposed to direct sun.
The non-profit charity organisation encouraged the public that if they notice a dog in the car, they should “identify signs of heatstroke, and report it to the RSPCA Cruelty Hotline (1300 CRUELTY) or WA Police (131 444).” The public should, in addition to these, “alert shopping centre management if applicable and Keep a safe distance and gather evidence.”
“This is about more than doing the right thing, it’s about preventing avoidable suffering,” Ms Green said. “We rely on the public to speak up when they see cruelty or neglect.”
