Why leaving a dog in a hot car for one minute is too long – and what to do if you spot one
Animal welfare experts have offered advice on what to do if you see a distressed animal trapped in a car during this week’s scorching heat.
The mercury in the UK reached record levels for June on Wednesday as forecasters warned people to stay out of the sun due to “extreme heat”.
A severe red weather warning will remain in place until Friday as temperatures are expected to rise to 35°C in parts of South East England.
The heatwave is causing chaos and disruption to public transport and infrastructure as train passengers are told to travel only when necessary.
Hundreds of thousands of people in Kent are under a hose ban as an extreme heat wave pushes water demand to record levels.
Animal welfare experts have urged dog owners not to leave their pets in hot vehicles during the heatwave, saying cars could be a “death trap” for dogs.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) said anyone who sees a distressed dog in a car should call the police and report it.
Lauren Bennett, the RSPCA’s animal welfare expert, said: “The RSPCA has no legal authority to enter a vehicle to rescue an animal in distress – only the police have the authority to do this.
“So please, if you see a dog or other animal in a hot car, call 999 immediately – every second really counts in this situation and it is vital to get the animal out of that environment and cool it down safely as soon as possible.”
He added that “sadly too many people” don’t understand how dangerous leaving a dog in a hot car, greenhouse or trailer can be.
“Many people think it’s okay to leave their pet alone for a minute or two, but we know that’s all it takes for the temperature inside a car to rise to dangerous levels,” he said. We want to see that owners understand the danger of leaving their pets in a hot car and do not take that risk without endangering their lives.
“A hot car can be a death trap for dogs, it’s that simple. Leaving your dog in the car on even an averagely warm, even cloudy day can put your pet at risk of great suffering or even death.”
“Unfortunately, too many animals die in hot cars; don’t let your pet be one of that number.”
