RSPCA Queensland has reminded pet owners not to leave dogs in cars, even with the windows slightly open, in the summer heat.
The warning comes after police were called to Victoria Point where a dog was left in a car outside a shopping centre about 12.30pm on Monday.
The owner of the car arrived before any action was taken.
RSPCA Queensland spokesman Michael Beatty said cars could get extremely hot, even when windows were slightly open.
“If it’s 30 degrees outside, the temperature inside a car can potentially rise to well over 40 degrees in less than five minutes,” he said.
“We tested a light-coloured sedan and the temperature rose to 57 degrees in 12 minutes. Any animal left inside would have been dead.”
“In the past week, we’ve had 28 hot animal in car jobs, 62 jobs with regarding animals with little or no shade and shelter and 110 with insufficient water,” said RSPCA Qld spokesperson Michael Beatty. “These numbers are horrifying. Some people are simply not listening.”
If you see an animal in distress, call the RSPCA’s 24/7 animal emergency hotline 1300 ANIMAL.