A hot day around the Hibiscus Coast can turn risky for pets faster than people expect, especially when beach plans, errands, and parked cars get mixed together.

If you’re heading to the sand, remember the summer dog restrictions on local beaches are before 10am and after 5pm, and if you’re stopping anywhere on the way, never rely on shade or cracked windows to keep an animal safe in a car.

The SPCA says leaving animals in cars is still an ongoing problem, even when people think they have made it safer by cracking windows or parking in the shade.

“It’s an ongoing problem, with many dog owners thinking that cracking the windows makes it safe,” says SPCA Inspectorate Regional Manager Jason Blair.

“This just isn’t the case. Having the windows down and even parking in the shade doesn’t make enough of a difference on a warm day.”

In a recent call-out, SPCA Inspectors were alerted to two puppies left in a small carrier on a box on the front seat in full sunlight, with the windows cracked about 10cm, and the temperature reading inside the car was over 45°C.

Inspectors broke into the car to rescue them, and the puppies recovered after water and time in a cool environment at the nearest vet clinic.

The owner contacted SPCA 50 minutes after they’d been removed, said he wanted them to “see out the window,” and received an infringement.

The SPCA warns that on a warm day, a car can heat up to over 50°C in less than 15 minutes, and dogs left in hot cars are at risk of heatstroke, which can lead to brain damage, organ failure, and even death.

Parking in the shade or cracking a window offers little relief.

The safest rule is to always take your dog with you when you leave the car, or leave them safely at home.

If you see a dog left in a hot car in a Hibiscus Coast carpark or roadside spot, call 0800 SPCA NZ or the Police right away.

More guidance is available from SPCA here.

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