Dogs die in hot cars

THE RSPCA campaign Dogs Die in Hot Cars advises people to do the following if they see a dog in distress in a hot car:

Establish the animal’s health and condition. If they’re displaying any signs of heatstroke dial 999 immediately.

If the situation becomes critical for the dog and the police are too far away or unable to attend, many people’s instinct will be to break into the car to free the dog. If you do this, be aware that without proper justification, this could be classed as criminal damage and, potentially, you may need to defend your actions in court.

Make sure you tell the police what you intend to do and why. Take pictures or videos of the dog and the names and numbers of witnesses. The law states you have a lawful excuse to commit damage if you believe the owner of the property you damage would consent to the damage if they knew the circumstances (section 5(2)(a) Criminal Damage Act 1971).

Establish how long the dog has been in the car. A pay and display ticket could help.

If you’re at a shop, venue or event, ask the staff to make an announcement to alert the owner of the situation.

Make a note of the car’s registration. If the owner returns, but you still feel the situation was dangerous for the dog, you may still report the incident to the police.

If possible, get someone to stay with the dog to monitor their condition. If they begin to display signs of distress, be prepared to dial 999.

You can call RSPCA 24-hour cruelty line for advice on 0300 1234 999. If the dog’s in danger, dialing 999 is first step.