Even in just a few minutes, temperatures inside vehicles can rise rapidly, and dogs feel the effects and can become very distressed.
RSPCA advice:
What to do if you see a dog in a car on a warm day
“First, assess the dog’s condition. If they’re showing any signs of heatstroke dial 999 at once.
“If the dog’s condition is critical, and the police haven’t arrived yet, your instinct will be to break into the car to free them. But please be aware that this could be classed as criminal damage. You may need to defend your actions in court, so please be sure you’re doing the right thing. Legally, you can commit damage if you believe the car owner would consent to it if they knew the dog was in danger.
“If you’re sure you need to free the dog, tell the police what you intend to do and why. Take photos or videos of the dog. Are there any other witnesses? Take their names and telephone numbers.
“Don’t be afraid to dial 999. If it’s an emergency, we may not be able to get to you – and the dog – quickly enough. And as we have no powers of entry, we’d need to ask the police to help us rescue the dog. Don’t worry – the police will soon let us know if the dog needs our help.”
Please also remember that the same applies in conservatories and caravans – these are not suitable for dogs to be left in when the weather is warm. Always ensure that your pets have plenty of cool, fresh drinking water available to them
How can I help a dog who appears OK?
If the dog doesn’t seem in distress, you can leave them in the car and follow these actions.
- Work out how long the dog has been in the car. A ‘pay and display’ ticket could help.
- Make a note of the car’s registration. If the owner returns but you still feel they’d put the dog in danger, you can tell the police.
- If you’re at a shop, venue or event, ask staff to alert the owner over the loudspeaker.
- Make sure you, or someone else, stays with the dog. Monitor their condition. If they get worse be prepared to call 999.
- You can call our cruelty line for advice on 0300 1234 999. But if a dog is in danger, dialing 999 should be your first step.
The law states that you have a lawful excuse to commit damage if:
The law states that 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 the circumstances (section 5(2)(a) Criminal Damage Act 1971).
DON’T DO THIS UNLESS CERTAIN OF YOUR GROUND AND ARE PREPARED TO DEFEND YOUR ACTIONS IN COURT.
@westbridgfordwirenews A distressed dog was rescued from a sweltering hot car by police officers who were forced to smash the vehicle’s window.Officers were called after the dehydrated animal was spotted at the Wilkinson Street park and ride site, off Nottingham’s ring road, on Monday afternoon.The small black Shih Tzu was barking and panting inside a locked car. The windows were left slightly open but it was not enough to prevent the dog collapsing.Thankfully, police arrived just in time to save his life. They smashed the car’s window, gave him water and rushed him to a local vet in the back of a police car.The dog is now making a good recovery and the owner has been invited to attend a police interview. The case is also to be referred to the RSPCA.With temperatures in excess of 30C expected in Nottinghamshire this week, dog owners are once again being reminded not to leave their dogs in hot cars – even with the windows slightly open as was the case in this incident.PC Jamie Martin, of the Broxtowe response team, said: “Firstly, I would like to thank staff at NET Nottingham Tram for alerting us to incident. Had they not done so, it is unlikely the dog would have survived.”Many people think it’s OK to leave their dog in the car on a warm day providing the windows are open. But this incident shows that just simply isn’t the case. Put simply, you should never leave your dog alone in a car on a warm day.“Whilst it is not illegal to leave a dog in a hot car, owners are legally responsible for their pet’s health and welfare.“If a dog became ill or sadly died due to being left in a hot car, owners could be charged with the offence of animal cruelty under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.“This could lead to a prison sentence and/or a fine.”According to the RSPCA, cars can become as hot as an oven, even when the weather doesn’t feel that warm. The charity says that when it’s 22C outside, the car could reach 47C within an hour.If you see a dog in distress in a hot car, please dial 999. #nottingham #westbridgford #dogsdieinhotcars #dogsdie #uknews #summer #bbcnews #ukpolice #policeuk🚨🚔 #police #doginhotcar #heatwave #ukheatwave2022 #ukheatwave
For more information on what to do, and helping animals that are suffering heatstroke, please visit
http://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/health/dogsinhotcars
