A seasonal warning for dog owners

Released on 25 April 2007

This week dog owners are being reminded of the dangers of leaving their dogs in the car, even for short periods, as temperatures rise.

Local animal welfare and enforcement agencies make the warning as the number of incidents increase. Just last week Romsey Police and Test Valley Borough Council Neighbourhood Wardens were alerted to a dog suffering in a car close to the train station.

The Police attended immediately and were able to open the car to release the dog. The dog was close to collapse and obviously distressed, panting heavily. It was taken by Animal Welfare Officer Helen Pugh to Mainstone Vets where it was checked over. After drinking several large bowls of water the dog was given the all clear.

The owner was subsequently located by the Police and was allowed to reclaim his dog after a Police warning was issued. The owner did not realise the extreme danger his dog had been in and thanked the Police for intervening as they did.

Under the new Animal Welfare Act 2006 which came into force on 6 April it has become an offence for a person to act in a way that may cause an animal to suffer. Leaving a dog in a car can easily lead to an animal suffering and dog owners may be liable for prosecution under the new Act.

Local RSPCA Inspector Jan Edwards said ‘dog owners need to consider the welfare of their dog at all times and make arrangements if they are going out, especially in hot weather. For example a 2 minute stop to go into a shop may end up taking 20 minutes and if a dog is left in the car it will suffer.

If a dog is left at home it should be somewhere shady with adequate supplies of water. Remember conservatories & porches also become ovens due to their predominately glass construction. Dogs have a fur coat which they cannot shed like humans can take off their coat. They do not have the ability to regulate their body temperature like us which is a major contributing factor to the problems we are seeing here’.

In warm sunny weather cars can become ovens with temperatures soaring to over 49° C or even higher. An animal left in a car which is panting may be starting to suffer from heatstroke which can cause an animal to die within 20 minutes. Leaving windows open or water in the car does not help.

If you see a dog left inside a parked car on a warm day please contact the Police on 999 for assistance or the RSPCA National Cruelty & Advice line 0870 5555999. Test Valley Borough Council Animal Welfare Team may be contacted on either 01794 527700 or 01264 368000.

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For further information please contact Helen Pugh, Animal Welfare Officer on 01794 527194.