Many of us will have enjoyed the soaring temperatures over the last bank holiday weekend. Whilst this was a well enjoyed break for most, many dogs suffered after being left in sweltering hot cars. There still needs to be more awareness around the severity of leaving a dog in a hot car. This is especially prevalent as the summer months will soon be upon us.
Summer Isn’t All Fun for Dogs
Over the last bank holiday weekend, temperatures reached 28°C. Unfortunately, the RSPCA received 217 calls about pets being left in hot cars which is extremely worrying. It is extremely easy for temperatures to rise inside a car, as the glass traps heat and creates a greenhouse effect.
According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, external temperatures between 27°C and 38°C will result in the temperatures in hot cars rising to between 54°C and 78°C. As a result, dogs or humans could die in a matter of minutes.
Some Motorists Still Aren’t Listening
The public were warned by animal welfare campaigners to not leave their dogs inside vehicles when the rise in temperature was predicted. However, these warnings were clearly ignored, as indicated by the high volume of incidents reported to the RSPCA. The organisation have since criticised motorists for not taking the welfare of their pets seriously.
Many people believe that simply leaving their dogs alone in a car for “just a minute” won’t do any harm. It only takes a small amount of time for temperatures to reach dangerously high levels.
Overall, it is only a minority of people who still insist on leaving their dogs in a hot car. Nevertheless, unattended dogs are still being put at risk of dying when the situation is completely avoidable. It isn’t enough to open a window, park in the shade and leave a bowl of water. Popping to the shop for five minutes is enough time for a dog to suffer from heatstroke. As summer approaches and temperatures increases, precautions must be put in place.
What Can You Do If You Find a Dog In a Hot Car?
Dog owners should simply never leave their dog attended in a hot car. They should be left at home, where the temperature is much more comfortable and plenty of water can be accessed.
If you come across a dog trapped in a hot car and are concerned for their safety, it is best to call 999 and report it to the police. The RSPCA might not be able to attend all cases quickly enough. Additionally, the organisation has no powers of entering a vehicle and would require police assistance.
Symptoms of heatstroke in dogs include: panting heavily, drooling excessively, lethargy or lack of co-ordination, loss of consciousness and vomiting. If a dog is displaying these symptoms, call 999 immediately.
If the situation is urgent, the general instinct would be to break the car window. However, this can be classed as criminal damage without proper justification, therefore you will need to collect evidence, such as taking photos/videos of the dog in distress as well as details of any witnesses to show that your actions were necessary and inform the police of your intentions. According to the law, you have a lawful excuse to commit damage if you believe that the owner of the property that you damage would consent to the damage if they knew of the circumstances.
Once you have removed a dog from a hot car, move them to a shaded area and pour small amounts of cool water over their body. Avoid using cold water because it could cause the dog to go into shock. Allow the animal to drink small amounts of cool water and once they’ve cooled down take them to the nearest vet as a matter of urgency.
