Safety call as police rescue dog from car
DOG owners across Greater Manchester should never leave their pets in the car over summer – even if windows are open and they are parked in shade.
The advice from the RSPCA comes after police released footage of a dramatic rescue of a pooch in distress in a Stockport multi-storey car park.
Police said that, even though the distressed mutt’s owners had parked out of the sun and left the windows open, the situation was ‘very dangerous for the dog’.
Now, figures from the RSPCA reveal that 275 dogs were left in such a condition in Greater Manchester in 2017, with 244 in the same situation a year later.
The charity also says that the true number of incidents is likely to be a lot higher, as most calls go to the police, not themselves.
“There is absolutely no reason or excuse that warrants risking your pet’s life by leaving them in a car on their own in this heat,” Holly Barber, RSPCA campaign manager, said.
“People don’t believe it will happen to them or they tell themselves they’ll only be a minute, but it simply isn’t good enough.
“We’re pleading with people not to take the risk and to leave their pets at home where they will be safe and happy.”
The animal charity added that temperatures can rise quickly in cars, caravans, and even in conservatories.
When it’s 22C outside within an hour the temperature can reach 47 degrees C (117 degrees F) inside a vehicle, which can result in death.
That’s because a dog’s normal body temperature is around 39 degrees C (102 degrees F) – but the upper lethal body temperature of dogs is approximately 42 degrees C (108 degrees F), and brain damage may develop at body temperatures of 41 degrees C (106 degrees F).
Furthermore, as pooches pant, rather than sweating, high heat levels or humidity can limit their ability to keep cool.
In an emergency, it is best to dial 999 and report a dog in a hot car to police as the RSPCA may not be able to attend quickly enough and, with no powers of entry, need police assistance at such an incident.