Dogsafe's Heatstroke Awareness & Responder Network

At Dogsafe, we're taking a different approach to canine heatstroke.
         
As a Vancouver police constable, I responded to dogs in hot cars scenarios and often found chaotic scenes fueled with emotions. I understand. Completely.  Adrenaline will be high when responding to any canine first aid situation --especially dogs in hot cars-- but if we strive for a calm manner with no judgement (we know it's hard, but try!), it will be easier to connect with people and ultimately help their dogs.
Now, as a civilian, I have talked to hundreds of people in parking lots about dogs in their cars and a kind approach has always been a better and faster way to reach my goal -- to help the dog.

And if the dog is in need of immediate care, we need to get calm (our Responder Checklist will help!) so we can (1) help the dog, and (2) document our actions, which may assist in a potential criminal investigation and lead to a conviction. 

We're striving for long-term change. 

​If you resonate with our approach, download, use and share share share our Heatstroke Awareness & Responder Network resources...  everything is free ... our paid online eLearning courses help supports our free programs!

Thank you for helping us, help dogs, worldwide. ​
You cannot shame or belittle people into changing their behaviours. 
                                                                                                 -- Brene Brown 

International Canine Heatstroke Awareness Weektm 


​The well-being of dogs in hot weather is a global concern. In response, we created the International Canine Heatstroke Awareness Week, which launches the first Saturday of June, annually. 

How can you help? 
​
RAISE AWARENESS    Download our free resources and display at your business, local dog park, on your vehicles ... and share on social media.
​
TAKE ACTION    Download our free Dog in a Hot Car Responder App (Android) or PDF version and be ready to help dogs (see below). 

Dog in a Hot Car Respondertm Mobile App       FREE! And NO Ads Either!
You see a dog in a hot car... what do you do first? How do you coordinate volunteers who offer to help? How, and what, critical information do you document that police or animal control will want to know? 

We've made it easy with our Dog in a Hot Car Responder mobile app
  • it will keep you calm because you have step-by-step guidance, through 12 screens, from assessing the dog to calling the police 
  • it will help you document your actions --including entering a vehicle with force-- that may assist police with a criminal investigation and also a veterinarian
  • and assembles all the data into a comprehensive document that you can email to yourself and forward to animal control, police or a veterinarian
Designed by Michelle Sevigny, the founder of Dogsafe, and former professional dog trainer and police officer. ​ Real life experience, real life application.   ​*Note: only available for Android at this time.

In the Media

Dog in a Hot Car Responder Checklisttm PDF     Free Download

​In Dogsafe Canine First Aid courses, we teach how to assess for canine heatstroke and how to help a dog experiencing heatstroke. 

Now we've made it easier with our Dog in a Hot Car Responder Checklist
  • to help keep you calm because you have step-by-step guidance from assessing the dog to calling the police 
  • to help you document your actions --including if you use force to enter a vehicle-- that may assist in a cruelty or criminal investigation
 
Download and photocopy to keep in your vehicle glove box or purse -- it can be used worldwide.

Why not leave some at your local dog parks, pet stores or anywhere dog-people hang-out?

Note: this is not a legal document. It's only meant as a way to document your observations and not to replace canine first aid training, veterinary care, animal control or police assistance.
​

 My Dog Is Chilling At Home Vehicle Poster     Free Download

​We know you make great choices about leaving your dogs at home when it's too warm outside ... now teach others by displaying your safer choice. 
    
Group dynamics is strong -- let's use this power for positive change!
     
I live for the day when I see these posters on tons of cars in hot parking lots and not a single dog locked in a car.  Are you with us?
   
Got a business or non-profit organization? Please feel free to print a bunch and give away to clients, volunteers or at public events ... dogs everywhere will thank you!
     
Available in two sizes. Hey, why not laminate it for durability?
​Just a few dollars at your local stationery store or find a Staples store in Canada or USA. 
​Or upload our free PDF to an online producer of car magnets, (eg. VistaPrint) and order a magnet (for their fee). ​

Display Poster for Businesses and Vehicles     Free Download

​Our 8.5" x 11" display poster has two intentions
  • cause dog owners to stop and ask themselves if they are making a thorough risk assessment  and
  • encourage response action for anybody who has concerns about a dog

Please consider downloading and printing this poster (or email it to a Staples store and they can print for about 50 cents) for display in your vehicle, your business' window, a commercial parking lot, shopping mall notice board, campgrounds or anywhere dogs may be left in vehicles ... dogs everywhere will thank you!
​
Download below and hey, why not laminate it for durability?
​Just a few dollars at your local stationery store or find a Staples store in Canada or USA. Or upload our free PDF to an online producer of car magnets, (eg. VistaPrint) and order a magnet (for their fees).     ​

Reporting Document for Businesses       Free Download

​Be ready to report incidents of dogs in hot cars with Dogsafe's master reporting document as a guide. 
​
STEP ONE   Fill in your business address and phone number (some staff or volunteers may feel anxious when calling animal welfare and forget it!) plus your area's particular animal welfare and police contact phone numbers.

STEP TWO   Use the How to Report space to write a full description on how to proceed as per your business' protocols.
Eg. "Obtain the customer's name who is reporting the incident. Call store manager for assistance but if not available, give customer a Dog In A Hot Car Checklist to obtain more details of the incident. Then call animal welfare first and if cannot respond, call police."​

Heatstroke and the Law   (Canada and USA/2016)

Want to know more about the laws?

READ:   Dogs In Hot Cars: Understanding Heatstroke and the Law  by Michelle Sevigny, former Vancouver police officer and creator of Dogsafe Canine First Aid.

Also included are links to Criminal Code of Canada (scroll to Sec 445), Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (BC) (download PDF and scroll to Sec 13) and an example for municipal bylaws for North Vancouver, British Columbia as of 2010.

In the United States? Check out the Table of State Laws that Protect Animals Left in Parked Vehicles.
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Dogsafe's Dog in a Hot Car Responder Checklist (tm) ​Mobile App and PDF
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