The BC SPCA has already received 400 reports of dogs in hot cars so far this year.

That鈥檚 compared to about 1,000 reports for all of last year 2017.

With the recent heat hitting B.C., the society is again reminding people to leave their pets at home if they can鈥檛 keep them safe.

鈥淧eople don鈥檛 realize just how quickly their cars can become death traps for their pets,鈥� spokesperson Lorie Chortyk said in a news release on Wednesday.

鈥淚t can take as little as 10 minutes for the vehicle to reach temperatures where the animal can suffer irreparable brain damage or death.

READ MORE:

鈥淲e know that if people are taking their pets with them, it鈥檚 because they love them and want to spend time with them, but we really do encourage pet guardians to please, leave their pets at home when they鈥檙e going out in the car.鈥�

If you see a dog in a parked vehicle on a hot day, the BC SPCA suggests noting the licence plate and vehicle information and asking managers of nearby businesses to page the owner to return to their vehicle immediately.

If that doesn鈥檛 work, and the animal is in distress, the society says to call 911, local animal control or the BC SPCA hotline at 1-855-622-7722.

It is illegal for to break a window to access the vehicle yourself. The RCMP and special provincial constables with the SPCA are the only people who can lawfully enter a vehicle in this case.