Dog With Steam Coming Off It Shows Why You Shouldn't Leave Your Four-Legged Friend In The Car

With the weather set to reach record-breaking temperatures in the UK this Easter Monday, a dog owner has shared a video showing the dangers of locking your pet in a car.

The short video shows a pooch sat in the passenger's seat with steam coming from its fur. It was filmed in the winter but shows how your dog would feel in a hot car.

And as it could reach 27C later, the short clip acts as a timely reminder of the dangers posed to animals during such intense bouts of hot weather, such as heatstroke.

A study by confused.com found a scary 44 percent of dog-owning motorists said they had left their dog unattended in a car on a hot day.

Researchers also discovered that 70% of those admitted they had left their dog for an average of eight minutes, which is plenty of time for a car's temperature to rise to unbearable levels.

According to the RSPCA, a car sat in 24C heat can reach a sweltering 34C in just 10 minutes, and a dangerous 43C after just half-an-hour.

Animal rights charity PETA warned: "A dog trapped inside can succumb to heatstroke in mere minutes, even if the vehicle is parked in the shade with the windows slightly open."

PA

When members of the public spot a dog alone in a hot car, it can be a very tough situation, with many not knowing what to do - call the police, smash the window, attempt to find the owner or a combination of all of the above.

However, Confused.com's study found that three million drivers (8% ) did not step in when they spotted a dog left in a hot car.

The comparison site's social experiment found that only four out of hundreds of passersby stopped to help out Annie - a fake dog locked in a car in 28C heat - when a trial was carried out.

Meanwhile, one in five (22%) said they didn't help because they just weren't aware of the risks to the animal.

The RSPCA has given its advice as to the best course of action if you see a dog locked in a car.

The charity says: "In an emergency, it is best to dial 999 and report a dog in a hot car to police. The RSPCA may not be able to attend quickly enough and, with no powers of entry, we'd need police assistance at such an incident.

"If the animal is displaying any sign of heatstroke - such as panting heavily, drooling excessively, is lethargic or uncoordinated, or collapsed and vomiting - call 999 immediately."

For more information, head to the RSPCA website.

Topics: RSPCA, Weather, UK News, PETA, Animals, Dogs

Dominic Smithers

Dominic graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History. Like you, Dom has often questioned how much use a second language has been. Well, after stints working at the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express, along with never setting foot in France, he realised the answer is surprisingly little. But I guess, c'est la vie. Contact us at [email protected]

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