Scottish SPCA warns of walking our dogs in hot weather
The charity has also issued a plea to the public to avoid leaving dogs in vehicles in hot days
Last updated 13th Jun 2023
The Scottish SPCA along with the RSPCA and other animal welfare organisations have issued a plea to the public to avoid leaving dogs in vehicles in hot days.
The charity has also extended their campaign to alert pet owners about the dangers that walks in the sizzling temperatures pose to man’s best friend.
It comes after last summer’s record-breaking heat, when the mercury reached a sky-high 40.3°C in some places.
Scottish SPCA chief superintendent, Mike Flynn, said: “If you imagine being trapped in an oven with a fur coat, it will give you some sense of how a dog can feel inside a hot car.
“It only takes a few minutes for a dog to overheat in a hot vehicle and leaving a window open or a bowl of water simply is not good enough. Our message is simple – don’t risk it. 22 degrees outside can mean 44 degrees inside the car.”
In 2022, the Scottish SPCA received 427 reports of dogs in hot cars, while this year the Dunfermline-based charity has already had 137 calls from the members of the public about dogs in hot cars.
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) revealed in a survey following 2022’s hot summer that one in ten vets in small animal practice had seen at least one dog impacted by the heat after being left in a vehicle.
Meanwhile, taking your pet outside in the boiling sun can lead to as many problems as leaving your friendly hound in the car because if dogs are too hot and unable to cool down by panting, they will develop heatstroke, which can ultimately lead to your pet passing away.
British Veterinary Association, junior vice president, Anna Judson, said: “Every year, vets see a large number of cases of dogs requiring treatment for heat-related conditions, many of which are a result of being walked or exercised during the hottest parts of the day. It’s important that owners don’t let their guard down even when official warnings aren’t in place.
“We would like to see it become the norm that dog owners always err on the side of caution when it comes to hot weather, and instead, walk their pets in the early morning or late dusk when temperatures are cooler.”
The charity has advised anyone who is going to break a dog from a hot car to inform them and Police Scotland. It should always be a last resort as they could be charged with criminal damage. Police Scotland has recommended that people should take the names and numbers of any witnesses and take photos and videos of the dog.
Anyone with concerns about the welfare of an animal should contact the Scottish SPCA’s animal helpline on 03000 999 999.