Ontario businesses urged to welcome four-legged shoppers

KITCHENER — Humane societies are encouraging businesses to welcome pets inside to avoid animals being left behind in cars on hot days.

As part of the Ontario SPCA’s “No Hot Pets” campaign warning about the dangers of leaving pets unattended in vehicles during the summer, businesses are invited to join a directory of petfriendly establishments.

Businesses that pledge their support will get a sign to print and display in their window to let pet owners know they can bring their animals inside while they shop or do business.

“It indicates the business is pet friendly and people are welcome to bring their pets inside while they shop,” said Ontario SPCA Insp. Natalie Rizzuti.

While leaving pets at home is ideal, sometimes it’s not avoidable, such as on long summer weekends when people are travelling to cottage country.

People preparing for a drive with pets as passengers can search the online directory at http://www.nohotpets.ca/ by city or business name to find those that welcome pets. It’s updated as more businesses take the pet friendly pledge.

Service animals are always allowed, as required by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

The Kitchener-Waterloo Humane Society calls the directory a fabulous idea.

Officers have been visiting businesses to encourage them to post a sign reminding people not to leave pets in hot cars, or go a step further and allow them inside.

“We’d love to see animals invited inside,” said executive director Kathrin Delutis.

“We got a lot of stores that already put water dishes outside.”

The response has been positive, and all local businesses offered the reminder signs accepted them.

Parked cars can quickly reach deadly temperatures, even when it’s relatively mild and the car is parked in shade with the window cracked open. Dogs have a limited ability to sweat and even a short time in a hot environment can be life threatening.

While for many it’s common sense to not leave a pet in the car unattended on a hot summer day, it remains a common occurrence.

“We do get a lot of calls, unfortunately,” Delutis said.

The OSPCA logged 1,400 calls last year, not including calls to police.

“It’s amazing that the message is still not getting out there,” Rizzuti said.

She is hopeful that getting businesses on board will help spread the message that it’s never OK to leave a pet in a car on a sweltering summer day.

“It’s unfortunate,” Rizzuti said. “I think most people don’t recognize the risk or they don’t think it will happen to them.”

Report an animal left in a hot vehicle by calling the OSPCA at 310-7722 or local police.