Halifax Regional Police have charged a man for leaving a dog in a hot car in Bedford.

On August 15 at approximately 4:15 p.m. police responded to a call of a dog in distress inside a car in a parking lot in Bedford. A dog was found in an unoccupied vehicle with all the windows up. The officer removed the dog from the vehicle, and when the owner returned to his vehicle, the officer issued a summary offence ticket for causing an animal distress under section 26(1) of the Animal Protection Act. This offence carries a fine of $697.50.

On a warm day, even with the windows open, a parked vehicle quickly becomes like a furnace and presents potentially fatal conditions for pets left inside. When the temperatures start to climb, we encourage pet owners to not leave their pets unattended in vehicles, even for a few minutes.

If you can’t bear to leave your furry friend at home, consider some alternatives to leaving them in the vehicle:

•                     Consider using a drive-thru or curbside pickup. Your pet can sit comfortably with you in your car while you wait for your meal or service.

•                     It’s also important to keep your pet hydrated. Depending on the length of time of your stops, consider packing water and a dish.

If you see a pet in immediate distress, call 902-490-5020 and take directions from the call taker.

Source: Release