Dog owners are being warned not to leave their pet in the car during the hot spell.
Allerdale police said its officers had been called out to two separate incidents of dogs left in cars today.
It said: “Leaving a dog in a car on a warm day is extremely dangerous and can be fatal.
“The temperature inside a car can rise rapidly, even with windows cracked open, creating an oven-like environment that can cause heatstroke and death within minutes.
“Dogs struggle to cool down in hot conditions because they primarily rely on panting, which isn’t effective in a car.
“A parked car is not a safe place for a dog on a warm day, if you can not take your dog with you, leave them at home.”
Why leaving a dog in a car is dangerous
- Heatstroke: Dogs can develop heatstroke quickly in a hot car, leading to organ damage, seizures, and even death.
- Dehydration: Dogs cannot sweat like humans, so panting is their primary method of cooling. In a car, panting is ineffective, leading to rapid dehydration.
- Temperature increase: A car’s temperature can soar to dangerously high levels even when it doesn’t feel that warm outside.
