A six-month-old puppy is dead after being locked in its owner's car in Burnaby, B.C., for about three hours on Saturday.

The SPCA and Burnaby RCMP responded to a call of a dog in distress inside a car parked at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) campus.

Officials say the dog had been inside the car in direct sunlight for about three hours.

Just before police arrived, the owners had unlocked the car. However, the dog was found unresponsive. The puppy was taken to a veterinarian, where it later died.

Despite the car's sunroof being left open, police say the temperature inside the car was 68 C.

The SPCA is investigating possible animal cruelty charges against the owner.

Police are reminding the public that it is unsafe to leave animals locked inside of vehicles for any length of time during the summer months.

Anyone who finds an animal in a car that appears to be in distress and suffering from the heat is asked to contact the SPCA or local police detachment immediately.