By JOLENE OGLE
WITH temperatures expected to stay in the 30s throughout the week, police are urging locals and visitors to never leave their dogs in a hot car.
The warning comes as more and more people post photos to local Facebook group, Sunny Coast Community Board, condemning pet owners for leaving their dogs in cars with the window down only a fraction.
One Facebook user and Noosa local Kara Chaplin posted a photo to the page of a Jeep parked at Noosa Civic on Sunday with a small dog locked in a cage at the back of the car.
Kara said the car was parked in the shade and the windows were down about 4cms, but “that’s not enough, the dog was barking its head off”.
“I can’t understand why people do it,” she said. “I always say to the owners, you sit in the car and see how hot it is.”
Kara said it was a hot day on Sunday and while she wanted to smash the car window to get the dog out, she knew there might be legal issues.
“It leaves people like us in such a predicament as it’s not legal to smash the window,” she said.
Noosa Heads officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Steve McReight said it was an offence to leave the windows of an unattended vehicle down, but it was also an offence and cruel to leave a dog in a hot car.
When asked if it is an offence to smash a car’s window to retrieve a dog, Sen Sgt McReight said it was best to phone for help.
“Technically, the person who would smash the window legally has no right to as it is not their property and while people may be acting in good faith, they can find themselves in legal strife,” he said.
“Save yourself from possible litigation and phone the police or fire service immediately. We treat these situations as a priority.”
According to the RSPCA there were over 110,000 calls received each year, with 1097 distress calls about animals being left in cars received last year.
The RSPCA said vehicles in the sun could get hot at any time of the year, even if the windows were down and the car was parked in a cool, shaded place.
Vehicles are made of metal and glass, both heat up quickly and retain heat, while tray-back utes can get extremely hot.
The RSPCA said it was best to leave your pet at home with shade, water and shelter, but if dogs are travelling on the back of a ute they are to be secured and have access to water and shade, preferably under a canopy, and if they are with you while shopping, secure your dog in a safe area outside the car with access to water, ideally under supervision.
Leaving an animal without appropriate water and shelter is an offence under the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001, meaning offenders can be prosecuted.
