Precautions For Pets In Hot Weather

Pet owners are being warned about the perils of leaving their animals in unattended cars in the hot weather.

More than half of British adults (18.3 million) have witnessed a pet left trapped inside a vehicle on a hot day and 1.5 million were so concerned that they made an attempt to rescue the animal, claimed Halifax Pet Insurance.

Owners found guilty of causing suffering to an animal can face a fine of £5,000 and / or six months imprisonment and can be banned from keeping animals for life.

"First and foremost prevention is better than cure. Under no circumstances is it acceptable to leave a pet unattended inside a car on a warm or even mild day. In a matter of minutes an animal can become distressed in these conditions, and of course temperatures can quickly change," explained Mathew Long, senior products manager at Halifax Pet Insurance.

"Anyone that sees an animal suffering inside a hot car should phone both the RSPCA and the Police immediately. It might take time for them to arrive so it is important to try and find the owner as well – for example using the tannoy system in a Supermarket."