Every summer we see multiple cases of dogs left in cars on news feeds and social media timelines. With the recent heatwave and reports of record temperatures set to continue into the weekend, we’ve investigated the law on leaving dogs in cars so here’s the facts for you.
The first point to cover is, never leave a pet in a car even with the windows open on a hot day. There is likely little airflow, even in the shade, to provide adequate cooling for your pet.
The temperature inside of a vehicle can double in less than an hour even with windows open!
If your dog or pet gets too hot, they can suffer heatstroke and worst-case scenario – die.
In the UK it's not illegal to leave your pet alone in the car, but if something was to happen as the result of leaving them, you could find yourself faced with an animal cruelty charge, an unlimited fine and potential six-months jail sentence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006
Signs of Heatstroke
There are several signs you need to look out for if you think a dog might be suffering from heatstroke:
- Heavy Panting
- Excessive Drooling
- Lethargy
- Drowsiness
- loss of coordination
- vomiting
- or collapsed
If you see any of these signs – take your dog for urgent attention with a vet.
Tesla Dog Mode
Tesla have developed a solution, called Dog Mode.
The feature is turned on via the central display unit and the vehicles air conditioning keeps the inside temperature at the choosen level. With a handy message on the display to alert conerned passers by, the dogs are safe the car is cool inside.
If the owner has been away for an extened period of time, and the vehicles battery pack drops below 20%, the car sends an alert to the owners mobile phone.
