RSPCA warning after death of three Labradors

20.08.12

We are urging pet owners not to forget their animals as temperatures soar.

 

Dogs die in hot cars

Following police reports of three Labradors found dead in a car in Wales last week, we are reminding people of how hazardous the inside of the vehicle can be for dogs.

We are concerned that people are not taking on advice and are continuing to leave their animals in places that are far too hot.

 

David Bowles, RSPCA director of communications, said:

With the topsy turvy weather recently people may have been even more forgetful than usual about how hazardous the inside of a vehicle may be for an animal.

Most people seem to know the 'don't leave dogs in hot cars' message, but I think they just don't think anything bad will happen to their pets, particularly if they're just leaving them for a few minutes.

What people need to realise is that the next animal to die in a hot car, conservatory or outbuilding could be their pet, that's how serious this is.

Despite a fairly mixed summer, our national control centre still received 1,399 calls about animals in distress because of the warm weather in July. But, with temperatures in August soaring to 27 degrees Celsius in some parts of England and Wales, we are expecting even more.

Protect your pet from heatstroke

All too often, owners make the mistake of thinking that it is sufficient to leave a bowl of water or a window open for their pet but this is not enough to protect your pet from heatstroke, which can have fatal consequences. Even a hot garden without shade can be disastrous for an animal.

For example, the temperature inside a vehicle can soar to 47 degrees within 60 minutes when the outside temperature is just 22 degrees.

More information

• All dogs will suffer, but some dogs are more prone to heatstroke. For example, dogs that are old, young, short nosed, long haired, overweight or heavily muscled are more at risk, as well as dogs with certain diseases.
   
• Cloud cover can disappear quickly.
   
• Temperatures in air conditioned cars can reach the same temperature as outside within just five minutes of the air conditioning being turned off.

Find out more

Read our advice about first aid for heat stroke and our top tips for keeping your pet safe in hot weather: Dogs die in hot cars.