Warning about leaving your dog in a car

The recent tragic case of the two police dogs, one of them a puppy, who both died when their handler left them locked in the car on one of the hottest days of the year has once again reminded dog owners of the dangers of travelling with their pets in hot weather.

According to the RSPCA, if it’s very warm outside and you’re going out in the car, think very carefully about what you are going to do with your dog. You should never leave a dog alone in a car.

It can get unbearably hot in a car on a sunny day, even when it’s not that warm. In fact, when it’s 22°C/72°F outside, the temperature inside a car can soar to 47°C/117°F within 60 minutes.

Unlike humans, dogs pant to help keep themselves cool. In a hot stuffy car, dogs can’t cool down – leaving a window open or a sunshield on your windscreen won’t keep your car cool enough. Dogs die in hot cars.

In fact, under the Animal Welfare Act you now have a legal duty to care for your animal and if you put your animal at risk, you could face prosecution. You would also have to live with the fact that your thoughtless action resulted in terrible suffering for your pet.

Colin Gilligan, Manager of New Mersey Shopping Park and himself a responsible dog owner says: “We take this issue very seriously, and our security staff as they patrol the Park will make a note of any car that has what looks like a distressed dog left on its own.”

More tips are available on the RSPCA website.