Advice for pet owners during hot weather in Cornwall
Cornwall's RSPCA say animals should have access to water and shade
The RSPCA in Cornwall have issued advice around looking after animals in the hot weather.
A yellow heat health alert is issued across Cornwall by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and Met Office.
It came into force at 8am on Monday 24th June and will remain in place until Thursday afternoon.
Sammy Thompson, spokesperson at RSPCA Cornwall branch in St Columb, said: "We can't stress enough the amount of dogs that die every year in a hot car because people think they'll pop into a shop for five minutes. Cats can get shut in sheds and greenhouses.
"It's being mindful about where your animal is and making sure they have access to shade and access to water at all times."
The RSCPA have some official advice on their website about keeping dogs cool during the summer months.
They say never to leave dogs in hot cars, conservatories, outbuildings or caravans on a warm day (even if only for a short while). When it's 22°C outside, temperatures can quickly rise to 47°C (117°F) in these environments, which can be fatal.
The RSPCA official advice suggests using pet-safe sun cream on exposed parts of your pet's skin, such as the tips of their ears and nose, to avoid sunburn.
Sammy added: "Animals are amazing at being able to figure it out themselves too, if they have an option to go into shade they will take it, they're very smart.
"If they're going to have outdoor time make sure they have somewhere to retreat. A nice shaded area that's got a pool or a cool mat that's great. Somewhere they can cool down if they want it."