The RSPCA received three calls every hour over the hot May Day bank holiday weekend, over 200 in total, about dogs locked in hot cars across England.
This is despite the charity reminding people about the dangers of leaving dogs in cars, where temperatures can rise quickly.
The animal welfare charity records these calls as ‘heat exposure in dogs’ which can include those outside who are suffering from the heat, or dogs in conservatories or caravans – but the majority of the incidents involve dogs in hot cars.
RSPCA campaign manager Holly Barber said: “Many people think it will be fine just to leave their pets for a minute or two but we know that this is all it takes for temperatures inside a car to soar to dangerous levels.
She added: “We have been doing a lot of campaigning lately about the dangers of leaving your dog in a hot car, and it’s really worrying that despite this, some people are still putting their pets in dangerous situations.
“Our main advice to owners is not to leave dogs in cars and our main advice to passers-by is to call 999 if they’re concerned about an animal in a hot environment.”
What to do if you see a dog in a car on a hot day
In an emergency, it is best to dial 999 and report a dog in a hot car to police. The RSPCA may not be able to attend quickly enough and, with no powers of entry, they would need police assistance at such an incident.
If the animal is displaying any sign of heatstroke – such as panting heavily, drooling excessively, is lethargic or uncoordinated, or collapsed and vomiting – then call 999 immediately.
If the situation becomes critical and police can’t attend, many people’s instinct is to break into the car to free the dog.
People should be aware that, without proper justification, this could be classed as criminal damage.
The RSPCA advise that you make sure you tell the police of your intentions and take photos or footage of the dog as well as names and numbers of witnesses.
The law states that you have a lawful excuse to commit damage if you believe that the owner of the property would consent to the damage if they knew the circumstances.
Once removed from the car, move the dog to a shaded/cool area and pour small amounts of cool water over their body.
Don’t use cold water as this could put the animal into shock. Allow the dog to drink small amounts of cool water. Once the dog is cool take him to the nearest vet as a matter of urgency.
You can call the RSPCA’s 24-hour emergency line on 0300 1234 999 for advice but, if a dog is in danger, dialling 999 should always be the first step.
For more information on what to do if you see a dog in a hot car, please visit the RSPCA website: www.rspca.org.uk/dogsinhotcars
