SPCA say pet owners can face a $300 fine for leaving their pet animals baking in vehicles this summer.
Photo/John Stone
The SPCA is advising Northlanders to keep their pets at home rather than leave them baking in cars as temperatures are set to soar further in summer.
The animal rights organisation cannot pinpoint how many pets are rescued from vehicles in Northland, because such complaints are logged as "ill treatment"
in its system. But it says animals left in cars with windows up is a constant issue in the region, especially during summer.
"Up North in particular, we are seeing people leave their dogs in cars while they go for a day on the boat. The animals in cars are normally dogs, sometimes puppies, the occasional guinea pig. A cat was removed from a car last year," SPCA chief executive Andrea Midgen said.
SPCA inspectors and police have powers to break into cars and rescue animals either suffering from heat exhaustion or those that are likely to. The SPCA is the only charity in New Zealand with statutory powers, including the ability to issue infringement notices and prosecutions under the Animal Welfare Act 1999.
"Dog owners should also be aware that with the introduction of MPI's new animal welfare regulations on October 1, they can now be fined $300 for leaving their dog in a hot car," Midgen said.
