‘Makes my blood boil!’: Members of the public slam dog owners after leaving their pets in cars

Outraged members of the public have slammed irresponsible dog owners who have taken their pets out in scorching 30C temperatures  – and in some instances, left them sweltering in cars. 

The UK has been basking in temperatures of over 25C for days and many have been making the most of the sunny weather, however some people have complained that it is not appropriate to risk the health of their pets in the process. 

Taking to Facebook, one disgruntled passerby shared a photo of what appeared to be a dog locked in a car in the Wirral while a policeman intervened. 

They wrote: ‘When will people learn! German Sheppard [sic] left in the small boot space of a car panting like crazy.

‘You’re lucky the police came as I would have smashed your window. I’ve given you some anonymity (that you don’t actually deserve) by not showing your full registration. 

Some frustrated passers-by have resorted to calling the police on irresponsible dog owners 

Sharing their grim discoveries to Facebook, many have called for dog owners to be more educated on the risks of heat

‘Makes my blood boil, but probably not as much as your poor dog was. You should be ashamed of yourself.’ 

Another incident occurred in Lincolnshire over the weekend and again resulted in the police getting involved. 

A complainant wrote: ‘My car was registering 30C at the time this photo was taken. A dog was in the back of this truck with not a single window cracked. A large long haired dog nonetheless. 

‘Owner wasn’t happy when confronted saying “it’s not a car, it’s a truck” – somehow meaning that it was OK. 

‘Police were called and his details are now on file after Tesco kindly made a Tannoy announcement.’ 

Another frustrated passerby claims they were also forced to intervene after a dog was left outside a different Tesco.   

‘As if we still need to spread this message! Please don’t leave dogs in cars on hot days! This person left their dog in the car whilst in Tesco with the window open hardly an inch.

‘Yes, they were only in there for 20 minutes. But I sat in my car until they returned with the windows up and it wasn’t a very nice experience. I asked the trolley man to get an announcement put out over the Tannoy.’ 

However it seems that the irresponsible behaviour wasn’t just limited to shopping trips. 

Earlier this month, one shocked woman described finding a dog in a van while its owner had a pint in 28C heat.

Many people reported seeing dogs locked in cars whilst their owners shopped

One person claimed they had stumbled across a dog in a locked van whilst the owner was in the pub 

They said: ‘Never have I been so disgusted. Pulled up to the pub to find a dog has been left in a van in the car park directly parked in the sun. 

‘Found the owner sat in the shade in the garden in a dog-friendly pub! While his dog roasted in the car, when approached the old man got in my face and told me to “f*** off” and mind my own business.’

Another person complained: ‘Have had such an awful day today I went to Aldi in Ruabon and as I pulled into the car park I saw a French bulldog on its side on the pavement barely breathing. 

‘I ran over to find that the owner had left the dog in the car! I said a few choice words to him and he said he has had dogs for years and never had anything like this. 

‘I told him he needed to at least get the dog out of the blazing sun and into the shade.’

One passerby described their horror upon discovering a French bulldog in the grips of heatstroke  

As dogs are unable to sweat they cannot regulate their body temperature in the same manner that humans do. 

They are susceptible to dehydration, heatstroke and burnt paws due to the hotter temperatures. 

You might think that your dog is getting plenty of air with the window open – but leaving them in a car runs the risk of them developing heatstroke.

Issuing guidance on how to manage pets during heatwaves, the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals described the risks of dogs in hot weather environments like cars. 

The PDSA said: ‘Some people think that leaving a dog in a car on a hot day is okay as long as they open a window.

‘But it is still very dangerous – even if the car is parked in the shade.

‘Even when it’s only 22 degrees outside, the temperature in a car can rise very quickly, let alone when we’re in a heatwave, when the temperature will be at dangerous levels within minutes.

‘The truth is, you shouldn’t leave a dog, or any pet, in a car for any amount of time, even with the window open.’