Dogs Left in Cars – Driving Schools Newbury

Last year, experts in dog welfare at Nottingham Trent Uni found that it can be dangerous to leave dogs alone inside cars regardless of weather outside. Dr Anne Carter stated, ‘Our work shows an even bigger risk to leaving dogs in parked vehicles than previously thought.’

Their research indicated that internal temps of cars exceeded 25C at least once in every month, which is enough to cause short-snouted breeds to overheat. They also found that car temperatures typically exceed 35C between April and September, which can cause lethal overheating in all breeds. On almost 1/3 of all days between May and July rose temperatures rose to those previously stated temperatures, with internal car heat peaking between 4pm and 5pm.
During this scorching Summer heatwave, Tesco staff – in collaboration with the RSPCA – started patrolling car-parks in the UK, including Newbury, to check whether owners had left their dogs inside their cars as they shopped. As we have established, in this 30C heat, dogs left trapped in sweltering cars could undergo potentially fatal heatstroke. The RSPCA has trained Tesco staff on what action to take if the symptoms of heatstroke are identified. The signs to look for are panting, drooling, lethargy and vomiting.

It does not seem like something driving schools should need to encourage, but perhaps they should as evidently people lack the common sense to know that this behaviour is unacceptable. Please do not leave your pets unattended in your vehicle.