Reports of owners still leaving dogs in cars on hot days despite repeated warnings of the serious risks

A warning has once again been issued to pet owners who despite many warnings, are leaving their dogs in the car during the hot weather.

Temperatures have soared across the region in recent days, with highs of over 30C recorded just up the road in Hawarden earlier this week.

In Wrexham temperatures have remained at 25C or above over the past few days – something which is set to continue into next week.

However North Wales Police have said it is still “receiving numerous calls to report people leaving dogs locked in cars.”

Despite many warnings and messages being issued each summer, owners are once again being reminded to not leave dogs in a car in the hot weather.

Whilst some owners may think leaving a dog in car with a window open is acceptable, temperatures inside can soar to 47C within minutes, even when the outside temperature is just 22C. This leaves dogs in serious danger of suffering from heatstroke, which can be fatal.

Last month the RSPCA Cymru said it had received 21 calls from across Wales – equating to one every four hours – over the May Bank Holiday Weekend from members of the public concerned about the welfare of animals in the heat. Of these calls 14 were made in relation to dogs.

What to do if you see a dog in a car on a hot day? The following advice was recently issued by RSPCA Cymru to members of the public:

– 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, we’d 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 – 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. But please be aware that, without proper justification, this could be classed as criminal damage. 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 that you damage 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 room-temperature water over their body. Don’t use cold water as this could put them 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.
– If the dog isn’t displaying signs of heatstroke, establish how long the dog has been in the car and make a note of the registration. Ask a member of staff to make an announcement of the situation over the tannoy, if possible, and get someone to stay with the dog to monitor its condition.

You can call the RSPCA’s 24-hour emergency cruelty line on 0300 1234 999 for advice but, if a dog is in danger, dialling 999 should always be the first step.