This summer is usually hot and sunny weather. Summer weather can be changeable and even on cloudy days the heat from the sun is strong. It only takes a short time for a dog to suffer the effects of being left in a car or in any place where a cool spot is not provided.
Most people are aware of the effects of summer heat in a car where extreme temperatures are quickly reached. Even if a dog has been left in a car with its windows open or has been left in the shade it is still not safe! Dogs pant to keep cool. In hot stuffy cars dogs can’t cool down - leaving a window open or a sunshield on windscreens won’t keep your car cool enough. The same can apply to a conservatory or other rooms and the garden.
Under 20 minutes in a hot car can prove fatal to a dog should its body temperature exceed 41°C. When it’s 22°C/72°F outside, the temperature inside a car can reach 47°C/117°F within 60 minutes. At 26°c outside it can reach 37°c in just 10 mins! Dogs overheat quickly which means they could be at serious risk in only a short time.
If you see a dog in a car on a warm day, call the Police on 999. If the police are unable to attend, please call the RSPCA 24-hour cruelty line 0300 1234 999.
Read more: Dogs in Summer
