By Sam Borsato - @BorsatoSam on Twitter

City Aims to Educate on Animal Safety Coming into Warmer Months

May 26, 2016 | 3:12 PM

LETHBRIDGE – As the weather starts to warm up, City of Lethbridge Animal Care and Control is reminding residents to take extra precautions when it comes to their furry family members.

Owners can face up to $100 in fines under city bylaws, if animals don’t have proper ventilation and water while left in vehicles. Those fines can climb up to $2,500 and include jail time under the Animal Protection Act, if it’s found in distress.

Skylar Plourde, Animal Control Officer, says these situations are largely up to the officers discretion, but they have tools to help them determine if they need to take action.

“We’ll use our laser surface temperature readers, and point it right at the dog, and it’ll tell us what the temperature is. If the dog’s skin is reading back at 38 or 40-degrees, their inside temperature’s not going to be much cooler than that. So, that’s when I usually start taking the next step of this dog needs to get out of the vehicle.”

In the video below, Officer Plourde has placed the truck in the sun for roughly 15 minutes, in about 18-degree heat. He demonstrates how the temperature can be much warmer inside the vehicle, and Plourde also notes that number can double within 30 minutes.

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Plourde added that serious brain damage and organ failure can occur when an animal’s internal temperature reaches 41-degrees or more.

However, in similar cases, residents are warned by Lethbridge Police not to take matters into their own hands.

Constable Steve Baker explained that residents who break windows or open vehicles to let animals out can be held liable for damages.

Plourde says concerned bystanders should first assess the situation, like checking if the windows are open, if water is available and if the animal is showing visible signs of medical distress.

After that, the best course of action would be to call Animal Care and Control at 403-320-4099, so an officer can handle the situation properly. Information like a vehicle description, licence plate number and specifically where the vehicle is parked can help officers respond quickly.

Officer Plourde and Constable Baker also went over how to safely transport pets, especially in truck boxes.

According to bylaws, animals must be restrained so they can’t reach the outside of the box. It’s recommend that you use an animal crate that’s securely tied down, and if you choose to keep them inside the vehicle, they must have their own seat.

“I’ve seen birds, cats, snakes around necks, you always have these pets that are on the driver. It happens a lot, more than it should… Keep yourself safe. It’s hard to drive, and you don’t need added distractions,” noted Constable Baker.

Drivers can face a $230 fine if they’re caught with an animal on their lap while driving.