Halifax District RCMP has charged a 71-year-old Lower Sackville man for leaving a dog in a car in Fall River.

At approximately 3 p.m. on June 5, police were notified of a dog in distress in a parking lot on Hwy. 2 in Fall River. A passerby opened the car door and took the dog out prior to police arriving. The owner returned to his vehicle, and police 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 creates 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.

Here are things to do if you come across an animal in a vehicle that appears to be in distress:

·         Look for the owner of the car. Go to nearby stores and have the owner paged.

·         If you cannot locate the owner, call your local police and stay at the vehicle until police arrive. Do not contact police unless the animal is obviously distressed.

·         If you are unsure if an animal is in distress, call the Nova Scotia SPCA at 1-888-703-7722.

·         Follow up by filing a report with the Nova Scotia SPCA either online or by phone, and be sure to note the vehicle’s licence plate number.

Source: Release #notw