Dangers of shutting dogs in vehicles

EVERY year, there are warnings from animal charities to beware of shutting dogs in cars during hot weather as it can kill them. There are isolated tragedies here and there, but now we have had a spate of them, with three in the Highlands in addition to two in England involving police dogs.

It shows that if it can happen to the police, it can happen to anyone.

We take our pets for granted, but forget they have different needs. It does not necessarily mean that owners are wantonly cruel to their dogs by leaving them in hot cars. That might be the case sometimes, but they are more likely to be the victims of that other common human frailty: thoughtlessness.

It is a fact that anyone can keep a dog and that is a large part of the problem among the general public. Too many people are not responsible enough to be left in charge of a dog, sad to say.

The SSPCA is now stepping up its campaign in the Highlands to target owners whose dogs are shut away in vehicles. Officers are authorised to smash windows to rescue dogs if they are clearly suffering. This is a sensible course of action and let us hope they are not slow in smashing as many windows as they can to drive the message home.