Following on from a successful campaign last year, Chard Resident, Judy Gray, has once more enlisted the support of District Councillor Amanda Broom in raising awareness of dogs being left in hot cars.
This year, with the full support of South Somerset District Council, other District Councils have also been asked to support as the message is spread further afield. In total, over 400 posters have been delivered to six councils and two main superstores, as well as stores in Chard.
Residents in Chard will be reminded of the dangers of leaving their dogs inside parked cars by posters in local shops. There will also be signs present in carparks across the district, as the plea not to leave your dog in a car extends across the whole of South Somerset.
Councillor Broom said, “Any additional support we can give to the national RSPCA campaign can only be positive – the more people who are aware of the risks, the more people who will leave their dogs at home & look out for dogs trapped in cars. It is traumatising to see any dog suffering in this way, and most people do not realise how quickly heatstroke can take hold”.
Leaving your dog in a car can cause stress and injury to your dog, even if it’s for a short period of time. Each year, thousands of beloved companions succumb to heatstroke and suffocation when left in parked cars. It happens most often when people make quick stops – the dry cleaners, the bank or the local shop.
Judy Gray said “The RSPCA website has more information, but even when it doesn’t feel warm, cars heat up as hot as ovens. 22 degrees outside can get as high as 47 degrees inside a car, in less than an hour. Having contacted District, Borough and Unitary Councils I am delighted at the heart-warming responses I have received – this has spurred me on to continue raising awareness across the country”
Councillor Carol Goodall, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Health added, “Leaving your dog on its own in a car to suffer in hot weather is an act of cruelty. Our Enforcement Officers will not hesitate to act and will call the police if an animal is seen in distress. The advice is simple – dogs die in hot cars; don’t leave your dog on its own in a car”.
South Somerset District Council does not have responsibility for animal welfare, this responsibility falls to the RSPCA, but our Enforcement Officers still look out for distressed dogs and will report any incidents such as dogs being left in cars to the Police and RSPCA.
If you see a distressed dog in a car on a warm day, call the Police on 999. If the police are unable to attend, please call the RSPCA 24-hour cruelty line on 0300 1234 999.
