Dog owners have been urged to keep their pets cool this weekend to avoid the heartbreak of losing a much-loved companion.
With weather forecasts predicting that temperatures could hit highs of 20c over the next few days, the RSPCA has issued its regular appeal to owners to keep their dogs safe in the sun.
RSPCA chief vet James Yeates said: “A hot car can be a death trap for dogs, it is as simple as that. Leaving your dog in a car, even on an average warm, even cloudy day, can put your pet at huge risk of suffering and even death.
It's that time of year again when the temperature rises. Some may like it hot - but that doesn't include most dogs, certainly the temperatures parked cars can reach is a danger for dogs so the RSPCA have a really important message:
Following the sudden rise in temperature over the last couple of days the RSPCA is urging owners not to leave pets in cars, conservatories or caravans whilst they are enjoying the sunshine.
We took our dogs for a walk today. It was a hot day (by UK standards) so we knew we would have to keep it short, walk in the woods where it was shady, let them paddle in the river and give them lots of water to drink. And when we ate our lunch we would find a table in the shade where we would all sit together. Before we set out on the walk, Anthony and I both wanted to visit the toilets. I popped in first while he waited with the dogs, then he went in while I stood outside with the dogs.
The forecast was finally for a warm weekend, so we headed for the beach. It turned out to be so hot that we had to find shade for the dogs. They loved it down at the water's edge where the sea was cooling and there was a delicious breeze, but back up the beach, they sat happily in the shade, peeping out from time to time to see if it was time to go for another paddle.
