Dog-owners urged to leave pets at home during warm weather when visiting hospital

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and RSPCA Cymru are appealing to dog-owners to leave their pets at home when visiting hospital.

Staff at the Health Board have raised concerns about dogs left in vehicles on hospital car parks in the recent hot weather.

Meinir Williams, Hospital Director at Ysbyty Gwynedd, is urging visitors to stop bringing their pets to hospital when they visit family or have an appointment.

She said: “We have had a number of staff raise concerns that they have seen dogs left in vehicles on our car parks during this hot weather.

“This can be distressing for our staff and also wastes time and resources trying to find out who the car belongs to.

“This should not be happening on hospital sites and we would like to urge dog-owners to leave their pets at home when they are either visiting us for an appointment or seeing their friends or family.”

RSPCA Cymru continues to warn members of the public as to the potentially fatal dangers of leaving a dog in a car on a warm day, with Martyn Hubbard saying: “Our message is clear – ‘not long is too long’.

“Temperatures can rise rapidly inside cars and it is shocking to hear that visitors going to hospitals are not listening to the advice and keeping their dogs in cars whilst driving. We urge people to keep their dogs at home.

“When it is 22°C outside, within an hour the temperature can reach 47°C inside a vehicle. This can cause heat stroke, and ultimately can have fatal consequences for dogs.

“Our advice remains that – in an emergency – people should dial 999 to report a dog in a hot car to the police.”