The RSPCA received 217 calls, including 7 in Devon, about dogs locked in hot cars across England over the Bank Holiday weekend.
The animal welfare charity records these calls as heat exposure in dogs which can include those outside who are suffering from the heat, or dogs in conservatories or caravans but the majority of these incidents are dogs in hot cars.
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.
“We have been doing a lot of campaigning lately about the dangers of leaving your dog in a hot car, and it’s really worrying that despite this, some people are still putting their pets in dangerous situations.Our main advice to owners is not to leave dogs in cars and our main advice to passers-by is to call 999 if they’re concerned about an animal in a hot environment.”
In an emergency, it is best to dial 999 and report a dog in a hot car to police.
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