Kelowna RCMP rescues dog from hot vehicle

Mounties in Kelowna say a dog who was seen passed out in the back of a hot vehicle on Monday has been rescued.

The RCMP says officers were called around 5 p.m. to the vehicle parked on Sunset Drive just off Manhattan Drive. Witnesses reported the dog had been in the vehicle since 3:30 p.m. that day.

After determining that the dog was unresponsive, officers broke the window of the vehicle and doused the canine with water. The outside temperatures at the time were 30 C, feeling more like 40 C inside the vehicle, police noted.

Mounties have confirmed to CityNews that the dog is alive.

The dog’s owner, along with officers from the BC SPCA arrived shortly after. The owner was issued a $100 fine for endangering an animal.

“This is a reminder that pets can not handle the summer heat and are at risk when inside a hot car. The RCMP will make it a priority to respond as quickly as possible, but would rather see the problem addressed through prevention before an animal is put into a potentially fatal situation,” said Const. Mike Della-Paolera.

If you notice a dog trapped inside a hot vehicle, Mounties recommend taking down the license plate and asking nearby businesses to potentially notify the driver. If no owner is found, it is recommended that you call either the BC SPCA or the police.

However, the RCMP warns that you shouldn’t break the window to the vehicle, as only Mounties and select SPCA officers can lawfully do so.