SPCA alert: Leaving dogs in hot cars can lead to death in just minutes

Dogs left inside parked vehicles can die within minutes, and pet owners are being urged to never leave animals unattended in cars as temperatures rise.

The Cape of Good Hope SPCA has warned that “every summer, our inspectors respond to urgent calls about dogs trapped inside parked vehicles,” particularly at shopping centres and beachfronts. The organisation says many owners mistakenly believe that parking in the shade, leaving windows slightly open or stepping away briefly makes it safe.

“The truth is a parked car can quickly become a death-trap,” the SPCA said. According to the organisation, “on a warm day, a car’s interior temperature can rise to dangerously high levels of around 50 degrees Celsius within minutes.”

Dogs are especially vulnerable because they cannot cool themselves the way humans do. The SPCA explains that dogs rely primarily on panting to regulate body temperature, but “inside a warm, enclosed vehicle, panting becomes ineffective.” The organisation has warned that heatstroke is “a medical emergency” that can result in “brain damage, organ failure, and death.”

Warnings about the danger have also been echoed nationally. IOL has reported on statements from the National Council of SPCAs, which cautioned that parked vehicles can become “death traps for dogs” and stressed that “leaving windows slightly open will not keep your car cool enough.”

The SPCA has issued clear guidance on what members of the public should do if they see a dog locked inside a vehicle. People are advised to immediately try to locate the owner by asking nearby shops, restaurants or security staff to make an announcement. If the owner cannot be found, the Cape of Good Hope SPCA Inspectorate should be contacted without delay. The organisation also advises that photographing or recording the dog and vehicle, including the registration number, can assist inspectors.

If a dog appears to be in major distress, the SPCA says the South African Police Service should also be contacted. The organisation has stressed: “DO NOT break the windows of the vehicle to rescue the dog. This act is still illegal,” adding that only authorities may legally and safely remove an animal from a vehicle.

Leaving an animal in conditions that cause suffering may constitute an offence under the Animals Protection Act No. 71 of 1962. The SPCA has warned that owners could face criminal prosecution if a dog is harmed after being left in a hot car.

The organisation has urged pet owners to plan ahead and leave dogs safely at home in a cool, well-ventilated environment with access to water rather than risk taking them along on errands.

“A dog in a parked car is not waiting. A dog in a parked car is trapped,” the SPCA said. “If you love them, don’t leave them.”

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Cape Argus