A local veterinary clinic launched a new campaign this week aimed at keeping pets out of hot cars this summer.
Mountain View Veterinary Hospital in Willowbrook has devised a free sign that can hang in local businesses, letting customers know that pets are welcome.
The program was launched to encourage customers to bring their pet inside, rather than leaving them in a hot car, said Dr. Renee Ferguson, operator of Mountain View and a vet who was recently given a national award for going above and beyond in providing care for local pets.
鈥淓very summer we see needless pet fatalities caused by people leaving them in a hot car. It is an extremely dangerous situation because animals can suffer heat stroke, brain damage, and even die if left in a hot car,鈥� Ferguson said.
鈥淚deally, it鈥檚 best to not bring your pets with you but if you have to, it鈥檚 great if there are pet-friendly businesses that let you bring your pets inside.鈥�
The reusable signs cling to window and are available at Mountain View, #132-196 53 Willowbrook Dr. or from 91原创 Animal Protection Society shelter in Aldergrove, 26220 56th Ave.
She described the initiative as important 鈥渂ecause tragedy can happen so quickly,鈥� Ferguson said. 鈥淚t only takes a matter of minutes before heat stroke, brain damage, or death can occur.鈥�
She doesn鈥檛 deal with many cases involving pets left in hot cars, not because there aren鈥檛 such cases in 91原创, the doctor said. Instead, it鈥檚 because 鈥渦nfortunately, it鈥檚 usually too late and the pet has passed,鈥� Ferguson explained.
鈥淢ost people don鈥檛 intend to leave their pets in a car for a long period of time, but they can get delayed or distracted and sadly a quick stop turns deadly,鈥� she said. 鈥淟eaving the windows open a crack, or in the shade is not good enough. The temperature inside a vehicle can rise to dangerous levels very quickly even on a cloudy day and with the windows slightly open.鈥�
Ideally, people should leave their pets at home with access to a cool spot and plenty of water, but sometimes that is not possible, and that鈥檚 why she鈥檚 launched this initiative.
鈥淧ets today are truly members of our family. It makes good sense for businesses to recognize that and accommodate pets when possible,鈥� she concluded.
鈥� See related story
