DRIVERS are being warned not to leave their dogs in hot cars when the weather is warm after the RSPCA received 217 calls relating to incidents over the May Day bank holiday weekend.
The charity had three calls every hour about pooches in vehicles and, although most of them were in Hampshire, two were in Worcestershire and five in the wider West Midlands.
Last year, there were a total of 93 for the county and 198 for the region.
RSPCA campaign manager Holly Barber said: “Many people think it will be fine just to leave their pets for a minute or two but we know that this is all it takes for temperatures inside a car to soar to dangerous levels.
“Dogs die in hot cars – don’t let your pet be one of the number.”
Anyone who sees a dog they are concerned about in a hot car can call the RSPCA’s 24-hour emergency cruelty line on 0300 1234 999 for advice but, if a dog is in danger, dialling 999 should always be people’s the first step.
Visit https://www.rspca.org.uk/dogsinhotcars for more information on the issue.
