Home

Perth weather: RSPCA issues warning for pet owners as Perth heads for 40C scorcher

The West Australian
VideoPerth is expected to experience its hottest day in almost 10 months with the temperature forecast to reach 40C degrees

An urgent warning has been issued to pet owners as Perth heads for a 40C scorcher today, with the RSPCA saying officers are receiving about 18 calls a week for dogs left in hot cars.

Since November 1, RSPCA WA has received more than 90 calls from concerned passers-by.

“We’ve had some very hot days recently, and it’s concerning that the message doesn’t seem to be sinking in for some pet owners,” Animal and Enforcement Operations executive manager Hannah Dreaver said in a written statement.

“Leaving your dog to suffer in a hot car is defined as cruelty by law, and owners have been successfully prosecuted as recently as 2018.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

“I know people love their pets and want to bring them along when they go out, but the best option for your dog is to leave them at home with access to shade and plenty of cool, fresh water.”

“Tragically, RSPCA WA has attended incidents in the past where dogs have suffered heatstroke at home and, despite every effort by vets, couldn’t be saved.”

People who leave their dog in a hot car can be prosecuted and face a fine of up to $50,000, five years in jail and a potential ban from owning an animal.

The temperature is expected to peak sometime between 2-3pm today — just in time for school kids heading home.
Camera IconThe temperature is expected to peak sometime between 2-3pm today — just in time for school kids heading home. Credit: Will Russell/ABC 2

At 11am, Perth locals were already feeling the heat with a toasty 35C an appetiser of things to come.

Today’s temperature is expected to reach its peak sometime between 2pm and 3pm, just in time for school children to be heading home.

And, the heat will linger late into the afternoon, making the rush hour drive home a sticky one with the mercury staying in the mid-30s until after 5pm.

It could be a sleepless night for those without air-conditioning with the temperature at 11pm forecast to be an uncomfortable 25C before falling to an overnight low of 18C.

Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Peggy Atkinson said it could be the hottest day since Valentines Day when the temperature hit 40.6C.

She said a trough lying off the coast was drawing hot air from the north of the state to blanket the city.

Ms Atkinson said a thunderstorm was possible in the early hours over the southern and eastern parts of the city.

Temperatures are forecast to fall to low 30s on Wednesday and Thursday before cooling further on the weekend.

A tropical low expected to cross the coast in the Kimberley and East Pilbara could bring humid conditions to Perth on Friday with relative humidity forecast to hit 70 per cent.

The steamy weather comes a week after the city shivered through its coldest summer morning in 124 years on the first day of summer, when it dropped to a record-breaking 6.6C.

It also followed the city’s wettest November on record and its coolest in 12 years.

PERTH FORECAST:

Tuesday: 40C, very hot and sunny

Wednesday: 18C-33C, mostly sunny

Thursday: 19C-31C, partly cloudy

Friday:19C-29C, partly cloudy

Saturday: 19C-27C, partly cloudy

Sunday: 16C-25C, partly cloudy

Monday: 15-27C, mostly sunny

What to do if you see a dog locked in a car in hot weather:

  • Note down the vehicle’s registration number and location and report it immediately to the RSPCA Cruelty Hotline on 1300 CRUELTY (1300 278 3589);
  • If you’re at a shopping centre, ask the centre management to page the owner of the vehicle by reading out the registration details over the speaker system;
  • Keep an eye on the dog until help arrives but maintain a suitable distance to ensure you don’t agitate the dog, which could cause further distress;
  • Gather as much information as possible (vehicle details, time and date, photos of the dog in the vehicle etc.) to substantiate the report

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails