An animal-loving councillor has warned of the dangers of leaving dogs in cars during the heatwave as we reveal the worst Worcestershire postcodes for putting pets in danger.
In total, there have been 55 incidents over the last three years where dogs were reported to have been left in vehicles, logged as a concern for the animal’s welfare by West Mercia Police.
The total includes incidents in Worcester, although the city has far fewer incidents than some parts of the county with Malvern and Evesham standing out as among the worst for owners placing dogs in jeopardy in this way.
What to do if you see a dog in a car in a heatwave?
The advice from the RSPCA remains to dial 999 if you see a dog left in a hot car, as police have the legal power to break a car window to save a dog’s life.
With temperatures rising and an amber heat alert now in place, one Worcester animal lover, Adam Gale of Moggy Daycare in the city’s Lark Hill Road said cars become a ‘moving greenhouse’ for animals.
He said of the figures: “It’s incredible that this is even still a thing. People just don’t realise how hot a vehicle gets, essentially a moving greenhouse.”
Meanwhile, St John’s councillor Richard Udall warned leaving a dog in a hot car could be fatal and urged people to cool their pets down with ‘doggy ice cream’ instead.
TREAT: Cllr Richard Udall’s dog Murphy cools down with some doggy ice cream (Image: Supplied by Cllr Richard Udall)
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the RSPCA said the ‘high’ figures, revealed in a freedom of information request, were ‘shocking’.
Worst postcodes for dogs in cars
The worst postcodes over the period 2023 to 2026 were WR14 (Great Malvern and surrounding areas) and WR11 (Evesham and surrounding villages and parts of Warwickshire), where there were five incidents for each postcode.
READ MORE: Warning to avoid leaving dogs in car during hot weather
There were two incidents in WR4 (Warndon Warndon Villages and Tolladine), one in WR1 (Worcester city centre and Arboretum) and none in WR2 (St John’s, Powick, Hallow and Broadheath) or WR3 (Fernhill Heath Claines, Hindlip and Bevere). There was one case each in the postcodes WR6 (Martley, Abberley, Holt Heath, Suckley), WR9 (Droitwich) and WR12 (Broadway, Willersey, Snowshill and Childswickham).
Amber heat alert warning in force
Worcestershire is now affected by an amber heat alert, issued by the UK Health Security Agency. While much of the focus is inevitably on the risk to human life, dogs and other animals are vulnerable.
READ MORE: Dogs Trust Evesham: 5 adorable dogs would love to find homes
The existing yellow heat-health alert for the West Midlands has been escalated to amber and came into force at 9am on Wednesday and will last until Sunday, July 12.
A dog lover’s perspective
Cllr Richard Udall, a St John’s councillor, said: “I always worry about dogs being left in cars in hot weather, it does not take long for a dog to become overwhelmed by heat and it can be fatal.
RISKS: Dogs are vulnerable to the heat especially if they are left in cars in hot weather (Image: Getty Images)
“Most dog owners are sensible and are aware of the risks and take appropriate measures to keep their pets cool, but it’s always worth reminding people. I know some people leave air conditioning running, but that’s not always obvious to others.
READ MORE: New amber heat alert for Worcestershire as temperatures soar
“If dog owners do have to leave their dog in a car, they should always leave a window open to allow fresh air. It’s not the weather to have a fur coat, so we need to be aware of the consequences of the hot weather for our pets, it’s not just a problem when in cars, but in homes and gardens too. My dog, Murphy, has become a fan of doggie ice cream, which has become a real treat in hot weather.”
RSPCA advice