Don’t forget Fido: The Ontario SPCA shares long weekend safety tips to keep animals safe

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Stouffville, ON (July 30, 2025) – As the long weekend approaches, the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society is reminding pet parents to plan ahead and keep animals safe – whether you’re heading to the cottage, hosting a backyard barbecue, or hitting the road.

Hot temperatures and busy holiday activities can be overwhelming, or even dangerous, for our furry friends. As part of its annual No Hot Pets campaign, the Ontario SPCA is urging everyone to take precautions and visit nohotpets.ca to pledge to keep animals safe in hot weather.

“Long weekends are a time to unwind, but we can’t forget about the needs of our animals,” says Jennifer Bluhm, Vice President, Community Outreach Services, Ontario SPCA and Humane Society. “With a bit of planning, you can help your furry companions stay safe, cool and comfortable all weekend long.”

The Ontario SPCA shares its top tips for keeping pets safe this long weekend:

Traveling – Never leave animals unattended in a vehicle, even for a quick stop. Cars can become dangerously hot in minutes, even if they are parked in the shade with the windows down. Plan pet-friendly stops if you must bring your animal, or leave them at home where they are safe and comfortable. Pet-friendly businesses can download a sign welcoming pets at nohotpets.ca

Camping – Keep your furry friends leashed at your campsite. Provide constant access to water and shade, and never leave your animal alone in a tent, camper, or vehicle.

Boating – Fit your animal with a lifejacket and ensure they stay hydrated and cool. Watch for signs of overheating, like excessive panting or drooling. If your boat doesn’t have a top or cabin where an animal can seek shade, leave them at home.

Backyard barbecues – Keep animals away from the grill and human food, especially foods that are toxic to animals, like onions, grapes, and alcohol. Set up a shady, quiet space for them to retreat from noise and crowds.

Cottage time – Ensure your furry family members have up-to-date ID tags or a microchip in case they wander off. Keep an eye on them around the water, and provide a cool, shaded area where they can relax.

Take the No Hot Pets pledge today at nohotpets.ca for a chance to win a YETI summer prize pack! You’ll also get access to hot weather safety resources, a downloadable toolkit, and tips to help spread the message in your community.

If you see an animal in distress, take action. Call the government’s Provincial Animal Welfare Services at 1-833-9ANIMAL or your local police. In an emergency, call 911.

Let’s make this long weekend safe and enjoyable for everyone – including our furry family members.

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Media Contact:

Media Relations
Ontario SPCA and Humane Society
905-898-7122 x 375
media@ontariospca.ca

About the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society 

The Ontario SPCA and Humane Society is a registered charity that has been changing the lives of animals for over 150 years. The Society provides care, comfort and compassion to animals in need in communities across Ontario. It values all animals and advocates to treat them with respect and kindness. The Society strives to keep pets and families together and does so through a variety of community support services, such as sheltering and adoptions, including emergency sheltering, feral cat management programs, animal transfers, food distribution, humane education, animal advocacy, and spay/neuter services.

The Ontario SPCA does not receive annual government funding and relies on donations to provide programs and services to help animals in need. To learn more, or to donate, visit ontariospca.ca. Charitable Business # 88969-1044-RR0002.

The Ontario SPCA and Humane Society Provincial Office sits on the traditional territory of the Wendat, the Anishinabek Nation, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the Mississaugas of Scugog, Hiawatha and Alderville First Nations and the Métis Nation. This territory was the subject of the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, an agreement between the Iroquois Confederacy and the Ojibwe and allied nations to peaceably share and care for the resources around the Great Lakes. The treaties that were signed for this particular parcel of land are collectively referred to as the Williams Treaties of 1923.