Owners who put an animal at risk by leaving it locked inside a car can face prosecution. Dogs can die from heatstroke in as little as 20 minutes.
Each year the RSPCA receives around 6,000 calls from members of the public concerned about an animal that has been left in a car outside. If it isn’t possible to trace the owner, contact the police on 999 or the RSPCA 24-hour cruelty line on 0300 1234 999 if the police cannot attend.
In warm, sunny weather cars become ovens and even if it’s cloudy, the temperature inside a car can become dangerously hot for a dog. When it is just 22°C outside, the temperature inside a car can soar to 47°C or even higher. Leaving the car windows open or putting a bowl of water inside does not help.
You are legally responsible for your dog. The Animal Welfare Act 2006 ensures you take care of it, and a number of other laws ensure you keep it under proper control.
Each day dogs need fresh water available, food, somewhere cool to lay, exercise, and companionship. If these are not available their temperament may change.
If your street is littered with dog mess, you can ask your local council to clean it under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005.
It is the responsibility of the dog owner or the person in charge of the dog to clear up any dog foul left by their dog. If you fail to clean up after your dog you can be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice, or if the case goes to court a fine of up to £1,000.
32% of lost dogs are reunited with their owners due to their being microchipped. A unique identification number is registered to the animal and the owner’s details are placed on a national database.
The Control of Dogs Order 1992 mandates that any dog in a public place must wear a collar with the name and address of the owner engraved or written on it, or engraved on a tag. Your telephone number is optional. You can be fined up to £5,000 if your dog does not wear an identification tag.