If it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for your pet.

A London man is petitioning the city to create a bylaw that would allow bylaw enforcement officers and city police to rescue pets left in hot vehicles.

Cole Benjamin was going into a drug store on a recent hot day when he noticed a dog in a car with the windows cracked open slightly.

Thinking the owners were in there to pick up something quickly, Benjamin continued into the store. About a half hour later, he returned to the parking lot and saw the dog still in the car.

Benjamin called London police and confronted the owners, who drove away. Benjamin said the police officer told him what the owners did was not against the law.

“No one came to rescue the dog,” Benjamin said. “And the officer said that what they did was immoral, but not illegal.”

Benjamin’s petition on change.org, has garnered more 700 supporters. He also has created a Facebook page about the issue.

“The new bylaw would hopefully enable London officers to act in the situation,” Benjamin said. “I’m really hoping to get as many signatures as possible.”

He has three dogs that aren’t even outside for too long in the summer heat, even though they’re usually outside otherwise.

The cities of Mississauga and Waterloo implemented a bylaw allowing city bylaw officers to remove dogs from vehicles. It is illegal to leave a dog in a car no matter what the temperature is there.

Orest Katolyk, the city’s chief municipal law enforcement officer, said a similar bylaw isn’t in the cards in London.

“We don’t have the authority to seize animals at all,” he said. “I don’t know how a bylaw would help.”

Leaving pets in hot vehicles is a cruelty to animals issue that the Ontario SPCA and London police already address, Katolyk said.

“If citizens feel the service level is not to their expectations, then they should deal with the OSPCA.”

The animal welfare organization enforces a provincial act that gives police the ability to respond in instances of animal cruelty and enter vehicles if necessary.

“If you see a dog in a car, take note of its behaviour. Heavy panting, drooling and acting frantic can indicate heat stroke,” OSPCA inspector Brandon James said. “Then contact the local police service or SPCA and let them know what you’re seeing.”

James also recommends trying to page the owners if they are parked at a store or shopping centre.

City council’s community and protective services committee will receive a report Tuesday about dogs that are left outdoors in extreme weather.

City council had asked staff to study when the city should require owners to bring dogs inside in extreme heat and cold.

The report says animal control officers can deal with owners if a dog is not in imminent risk. If a dog is in immediate danger, the officer will notify the London Humane Society if the owner isn’t available. The report doesn’t mention dogs left in hot vehicles.

Judy Foster, executive director of the London Humane Society, said the best way to protect dogs in the summer is through public education.

“The rules won’t make the dogs safer — people just need to be educated.”

Unfortunately, there’s no set temperature that is a threat to dogs, Foster said. Different environmental factors can make a big difference such as humidity, colour of the vehicle and whether it’s in the shade.

The Humane Society tries to have public awareness campaigns when the weather becomes hot, Foster said, but this year the heat wave hit earlier than usual.

“If you roll out a full campaign when it’s not hot yet, people forget,” she said. “It needs to be timely and effective.”

The general rule of thumb though, is to avoid leaving your dog in your vehicle no matter the temperature outside.

shmehta@postmedia.com

@ShaluatLFPress

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