West Mercia Police officers in Hereford are warning people about the risks of leaving dogs in hot cars after receiving a number of reports of such incidents in recent days.
A spokesperson for West Mercia Police said:
“As we see the rise in temperatures the police are also seeing a rise in phone calls made to us regarding dogs being left in the cars. In the past 2 weeks we have received and responded to many calls,
“When you park your car in the hot weather the temperature in the car rises rapidly in a very short period of time. A dog will pant to regulate its body temperature however in these situations this isn’t enough. If they are left for a period of time the dog can dehydrate, develop heat stroke and in some situations even die,
“If you are considering taking your dog out on a hot day, please do not leave it in the car. Take it with you or leave it in the security of your own home.
“Should you come across a dog or animal in a hot car, establish the health condition that the dog is in and if it is displaying any signs of stress, heat stroke or not responding then call 999 immediately and ask for police. Time is key in these situations.”
