Our security staff are instructed that if they come in contact with a dog in a car, during their tour of duty in warm or hot conditions, they are asked to assess the situation and act in the best interest of the dog. Here is guidance on dealing with a situation if this ever occurs, from our staffs point of view.
Establish the animal’s health and condition if possible and safe to do so. If they’re displaying any signs of heatstroke dial 999 immediately.
Warning signs of heatstroke:
- Is the dog panting heavily?
- Is the dog drooling excessively?
- Does the dog appear lethargic, drowsy or uncoordinated?
- Is the dog collapsed or vomiting?
If the situation becomes critical for the dog and the police are too far away or unable to attend, many people’s instinct will be to break into the car to free the dog. STOP, PAUSE, THINK, ASSESS, If our officers decide to do this, please be aware that without proper justification, this could be classed as criminal damage and, potentially, you or others may need to defend your actions in court.
Make sure you tell the police what you intend to do and why. Take pictures or videos of the dog and the names and numbers of witnesses to the incident.
The law states that you have a lawful excuse to commit damage if you believe that the owner of the property that you damage would consent to the damage if they knew the circumstances (section 5(2)(a) Criminal Damage Act 1971).
Once removed if safe to do so, and you feel confident to so do in such a manner. If the dog is displaying signs of heatstroke, follow the emergency first aid advice below. This could mean the difference between life and death for the dog.
If the dog isn’t displaying symptoms of heatstroke
- Establish how long the dog has been in the car. A ‘pay and display’ ticket could help you assess the possible duration of time.
- Make a note of the car’s registration. If the owner returns, but you still feel the situation was dangerous for the dog, you may still report the incident to the police.
- If you’re at a shop, venue or event or other location, ask the staff to make an announcement to alert the owner of the situation if possible to do so.
- If possible, get someone to stay with the dog to monitor their condition. If they begin to display signs of distress or heatstroke, be prepared to dial 999.
- You can also call the RSPCA 24-hour cruelty line for advice on 0300 1234 999. However, if the dog’s in danger, dialling 999 should always be the first step.
Emergency First Aid for dogs
For the best chance of survival, dogs suffering from heatstroke urgently need to have their body temperature lowered gradually.
- Move him/her to a shaded/cool area, only if safe and confident to do so.
- Immediately douse the dog with cool (not cold) water, to avoid shock. If possible, you can also use wet towels or place him/her in the breeze of a fan, only if safe and confident to do so.
- Allow the dog to drink small amounts of cool water.
- Continue to douse the dog with cool water until his/her breathing starts to settle but never so much that he/she begins to shiver, only if safe and confident to do so.
- Once the dog is cool, take him/her to the nearest vet as a matter of urgency, only if safe and confident to do so, and you have access to safe and secure transport.
We at Tactical feel this is a duty and an obligation to the welfare of animals left in these situations, regardless if the owners intended this action or it was out of their control. Either way we feel the need that our officers have to do something, in the same light members of the public should also assess their position, if they should come in contact with this type of emergency. On the other hand we in no way condone that windows should be smashed every time a dog is seen in a car, everyone has a duty to act responsibly within a moral standing and staying compliant with the laws of the land.