EDMONTON - After a recent successful vehicle sticker campaign aimed at educating people about keeping their pets safe by not leaving them alone in the car, more Edmontonians are calling for help when they see that happening. While the Edmonton Humane Society is grateful people are on the lookout for this potentially dangerous situation, they're finding that, in some cases, the animal isn't actually at risk.
"We are being told by the City of Edmonton's Emergency Services Department that there has been an increase in the number of people calling 911, basically panicking when they spot an animal alone in a vehicle, says EHS spokesperson Shawna Randolph in a release. "We strongly urge people to be well aware of the true signs of an animal in distress."
"We know that people mean well when they instantly react to a pet left alone in a vehicle, but we hope that they just take a few quick moments to properly assess the situation before simply calling 911," adds Randolph.
So how can you tell when and who to call for help when you spot a pet alone in a vehicle on a hot day? You can use the following chart as a guideline:
The Edmonton Humane Society still encourages motorists to either keep their pets safely at home, (with adequate shade and water). If it's necessary to travel with an animal, though, it's recommended that you only visit pet friendly establishments or take along an adult passenger so the pet has someone to safely stay with.
You can download and print off a notice to leave on vehicles to help educate others who may be endangering their pet by clicking here.
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