The call centre is already being swamped with calls from people reporting animals suffering heat stress

“If it’s thirty degrees outside, the temperature inside a car can potentially rise to well over forty degrees in less than five minutes,” said RSPCA Qld spokesperson Michael Beatty. “. We tested a light coloured sedan and the temperature rose to 57 degrees in twelve minutes. Any animal left inside would have been dead.”

Dogs left in backyards can also be in danger.

“A dog can survive for days without food, but in these temperatures, if they don’t have shade or can’t reach water they’ll die,” continued Mr Beatty. “A rope or a chain can easily become entangled in furniture or plants and that can be fatal. It’s far better to make the yard or courtyard secure and then it won’t be necessary to tether the dog in the first place. We would also recommend that there are at least two to three containers of water in case one gets knocked over.” 

Dogs left on the back of utes with no shade covering are also at risk.

“We’ve seen dogs with their paws severely burnt from the hot metal. Can you imagine the heat reflecting off the metal tray! Some people simply seem to have no common sense.”

If you see an animal in distress, contact the RSPCA’s 24/7 Animal Emergency Hotline 1300 ANIMAL