'Don't leave pets in hot cars'

With hot, humid weather gripping Sarnia-Lambton, the local humane society is again reminding pet owners to not leave their furry friends in hot cars.

Reports say that on a typical summer day of 25 C, it only takes 20 minutes for the temperature inside your car to reach 40 C.

Society Executive Director Donna Pyette said there are plenty of signs that an animal is overheated.

"Excessive panting is definitely one of the most noticeable signs," she said. "Animals who appear lethargic don't have a lot of spunk to them, and right now, you can tell a dog who is overheated. Just to touch a dog who is overheated, you're going to feel that body temperature difference."

Pyette said if you come across an animal locked in a hot car, call the humane society or local police service.

"Our agents are all over between Chatham-Kent, Sarnia-Lambton, and Huron County, so sometimes when those calls come in, our agent may be two hours away to respond to that call. So we do encourage people to call the police -- they will respond to the best of their abilities," said Pyette. "A lot of the time when we do get there right away, the car has already left, so it's important to get the licence plate number -- we can follow-up just through that."

The Sarnia District SPCA has been enforcing animal cruelty laws in the area since June 28 following the provincial government's decision to end Ontario SPCA service.