Travelling with dogs: summer driving tips

Every year without fail there are horrific stories about dogs dying in cars during hot weather.

Many people still believe that it’s ok to leave a dog in a car if the windows are left open, or they’re parked in the shade. The truth is that it’s still a potentially lethal situation for the dog.

According to the RSPCA, when it’s 22 degrees outside, the temperature inside a car can reach an unbearable 47 degrees within the hour.

Road safety and breakdown organisation GEM Motoring Assist has these essential tips for making sure your dog is safe and comfortable in the car this summer…

• Leave your dog at home on warm days.
• On trips with your pet, bring plenty of fresh drinking water, and a bowl. Ensure your dog is able to stay cool on a journey.
• Don’t let your dog travel unrestrained loose, Instead, use a proper travel basket or crate to create a safer space. Dog seatbelts and travel harnesses are also available.
• If you suggest the dog might be too hot, then you will need to stop somewhere safe and give him a good drink of water. Animals are unable to sweat in the way that humans can. Dogs cool themselves by panting and sweating through their paws, so if you have left your dog in the car on a hot day, it only takes a few minutes for him to succumb to the symptoms of heatstroke.
• If you suspect your dog is developing heatstroke on a journey, stop somewhere safe and take him into the shade or to somewhere cool. However, if signs of heat exhaustion become apparent (for example excessive thirst, heavy panting, rapid pulse, fever, vomiting, glazed eyes, dizziness), you should go straight to a veterinary surgeon.
• If you see a pet in a vehicle on a hot day, take immediate action. For example, if you’re in a supermarket, roadside service area or garden centre car park, note the car make, model, colour and registration number, then go inside and ask for an announcement to be made. If this doesn’t bring the owner out, or you’re in a location where finding the owner is impossible, then dial 999 and ask for the police.

GEM road safety officer Neil Worth warns that it’s both dangerous and illegal to leave an animal in a hot vehicle. “If the dog becomes ill or dies, the owner is likely to face a charge of animal cruelty under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Tiktok Porn and Periscope Porn Videos – Download Here

“This offence can bring a prison sentence of up to six months in custody and/or a fine of up to £20,000.”