Responsible Pet Ownership
Hot Cars and Pets
Report Animal Cruelty
Animal Services does not assess animal cruelty cases.
To report a suspected case of animal cruelty (abuse, cruelty and/or neglect of domestic, wildlife and/or farm animals) call 1-833-926-4625.
Everyone knows that leaving pets in hot cars is dangerous and should not be done. Unfortunately, it is still being done. On hot days, authorities receive one to two calls about pets in hot cars.
What can you do?
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Leave your pets at home if you are running errands or might be going somewhere that you cannot bring your pet.
If you find a pet in a hot car:
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Contact mall security (if you are at a shopping mall) to see if they can page the owner to go back to their car
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Call the Provincial PAWS at 1-833-9-ANIMAL (1-833-926-4625)
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Call Hamilton Police at 911
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Or call Hamilton Animal Services at 905-574-3433
If you find a pet that is suffering from the heat
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Contact a veterinary clinic immediately.
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Cool the pet with water and get it into the shade until you are ready to take it to the vet.
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The pet must be seen by a veterinarian as they have more resources to help the animal.
What can happen?
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The heat in a car can increase by at least 10 degrees within 5 to 10 minutes.
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Left in a car on a hot day, your pet can suffer from heatstroke or heat exhaustion in as little as 10 minutes.
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As the heat rises, pets can go into organ failure, coma and eventually death.
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