25/06/2026
🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞
Just a thought, but some owners may still be seen out with their dogs during hot weather, and that doesn't automatically mean they are being irresponsible. There can be several reasons, including:
🐾 Essential toilet breaks – Not all dogs have access to a garden, so very short walks may be necessary for toileting. I wonder if they soak the dogs feet in cool water beforehand or pop a cooling vest or bandana on their dog though❓️
🐾 Cooling activities – Owners may be taking dogs to secure fields with shade, woodland 🌳 walks, swimming 🏊♂️facilities, or water-based activities specifically designed to keep dogs cooler. ❄️ We go from our house, to the car, which has cooling mats/air con, to The K9 Retreat pool. Minimal paws on floors but I have seen "looks" when we return after an hour out from people thinking we have walked the dogs, as they have only seen us on the driveway and not getting out of my car.
🐾 Vet appointments – Dogs may need to travel for pre-booked appointments that cannot be postponed. During the last heatwave, we were stared at and commented about as our eldest dog was sat in the sunshine rather than inside the vets..... it was her last day with us as we were about to let her cross the 🌈 Bridge.
🐾 Individual tolerance varies – Factors such as breed, age, health, coat type, humidity, and access to cooling measures all affect how well a dog copes with heat. What is safe for one dog may not be safe for another.
That said, owners should always be mindful of hot pavements, avoid strenuous exercise during peak temperatures, carry water, seek shade, and watch for signs of overheating such as excessive panting, lethargy, drooling, or disorientation.
This is really just a gentle reminder that we often don't know the full circumstances behind why someone is out with their dog, so it's best to focus on educating and supporting fellow owners rather than making assumptions. 🐶☀️
Leaving dogs in hot cars, or taking them to the beach ⛱️ is absolutely not acceptable in this weather.
In an ideal world, I would love to see some type of "enforcement officers" out in public at beaches etc & helping dogs that blatantly are being subjected to the risk of heat stroke etc.
I see a lot of news reports from beaches this week. And I always wonder why the reporters don't mention the dangers of dogs being taken there. 🤔 despite there being dogs in the footage.
