Don't get hot-headed if you spot a hot dog in a car, police warn

Ask anyone whose job it is to keep animals safeand they will tell you it's a commonly held belief that you can go ahead and break a car window if there is a dog locked inside on a hot day.

People's hearts bleed.- Cathy Brin, Saskatoon SPCA

It's not OK. In fact,it is against the law, Regina police are saying a timely reminder with hot weather on the way.

Regina Police Service countered the pervasiveidea that you are allowed to break a window with a social media postwarning that people should not "take legal advice from Facebook.

"We would never condone your breaking someone else's window when there are so many other steps you can take," said the police post.

Call animal protection agency

Cathy Brin is with the Saskatoon Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

She said she's heard this false directive as well, but said she has compassion for anyone who finds themselves worried about a dog locked in a hot car.

"People's hearts bleed," she said.

Brin's advice is to call your local animal protection agency first. In Saskatoon, the SPCA can send out an officer to investigate 24 hours a day. The Saskatoon SPCA can be reached at306-374-7387.

If for whatever reasonthat fails, you can try the police.

In Regina, the police say they welcome animal calls and have advised people to contact them through the non-emergency number 306-777-6500 so they can dispatch a patrol car.

In its Facebook post, the Regina Police Servicesaid it would also alert animal protection officers anytime it receives a report of an animal in distress.