in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, Ju ly 18 ,2 01 9 | 6 ABOUT US This newspaper, published every Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised family of newspapers is comprised f of more than 80 community publications across Ontario. This newspaper is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants are urged to bring their concerns to the attention of the news- paper and, if not satisfied, write The National NewsMedia Council, Suite 200, 890 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4W 2H2. 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OPINION TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CONTENT VISIT INSIDEHALTON.COM Halton experienced its first spell of extreme heat this month and with temperatures on the rise, warn- ings went out to ensure people tried to stay cool. It's hot out there. Real hot. And most adults know their limits when it comes to heat. As their bodies start to warm up, they'll seek out shade, get a cool drink or make their way to the nearest place with air conditioning. For pets, it's a different story. Often, they are at the whims of their human companions, especially when it comes to going for car rides. Running out to do er- rands? Leave Fido at home. Your poor pooch doesn't need to tag along, only to be left alone in the car. Taking a pet on a car ride, long or short, requires forethought and careful planning. The fact is, as hot asforethought and careful planning. The fact is, as hot asf it gets outside, it can be even hotter inside a vehicle and cracking a window doesn't do much to help things. Leaving your pet inside a parked car puts it at risk. Even if you don't think it's that hot outside, the temper- ature inside a parked car is much higher and can quickly reach deadly temperatures. Unlike humans, dogs have a limited to ability to sweat. When heat reaches the 'extreme' temperatures it did last week and earlier in July, pets' body tempera- tures can spike quickly. Don't leave your pets in cars - it's a message that pops up every summer but for some, it hasn't managed to get through. A few years ago, pet owners were even encouraged to take the #NoHotPets pledge, signing an online pledge with the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society promising not to leave their pets in a parked car. It can be costly to leave your pooch parked in your car. When notified, local authorities can break a win- dow to rescue the pet. Someone could also find them- selves heading to court, facing animal cruelty charges. More than that though, it can be deadly. SPCAs across Canada receive hundreds of reports of pets being left in cars every year. The worst part is, it's all so easily avoidable. All it takes is a little bit of forethought when leaving the house: if you can't take your pet with you when you leave your car, leave them at home where they are safe. REMEMBER YOUR PETS IN EXTREME HEAT SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER AT INSIDEHALTON.COM Tuesday, July 16 marked one year to the day since my first time sitting in the legislature for question pe- riod, and I am continually reminded of what a great honour it is to represent Oakville. On reflection, I am proud of what our Ontario government has been able to accomplish thus far in the legislature, and of the provincial investments in our community which will have a positive impact on residents. Provincial dollars are supporting the construc- tion of the new Wyecroft Road expansion and bridge construction, the construc- tion of the new St. Nicholas School on Warminster Drive, investing in Oak- ville Transit, and renewed water and wastewater treatment infrastructure in partnership with Halton Region and the federal gov- ernment. We are fortunate to live in Oakville and come to- gether as a community to celebrate many wonderful events such as the Willson Oakville Film Festival, the Oakville Family Ribfest, and the Canada Day cele- brations at Bronte Water- front Park. I have been grateful for the opportunity to share these experiences with my fellow Oakville residents and I look forward to other upcoming events in Oak- ville. Friday, July 19, the 42nd annual Midnight Madness is a wonderful opportunity for friends and families from across Oakville to take part in all that downtown has to of- fer. Please take the time tofer. Please take the time tof stop by my booth located on Lakeshore Road East; I would be pleased to meet you and your family in person. Following the Labour Day weekend, the sixth an- nual Kerrfest will take place from Sept. 6- 8. Kerr- fest is always a great event with opportunities to sup- port local businesses and listen to live music. I look forward to seeing you there. While the legislature is currently in recess, my staff and I continue to work hard throughout the sum- mer to support Oakville residents in accessing pro- vincial government servic- es and answering your in- quiries. For assistance with pro- vincial matters and to schedule an appointment to meet me in person, please send an email to ste- phen.crawford- co@pc.ola.org, or call our Oakville constituency of- fice at 905-827-5141. We are located at 74 Rebecca St., Unit A, and are open Mon- day - Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Stephen Crawford is the Oakville MPP. A GREAT HONOUR TO REPRESENT OAKVILLE AT LEGISLATURE 1 YEAR, WRITES STEPHEN CRAWFORD STEPHEN CRAWFORD Column EDITORIAL