Tips for traveling with pets in hot weather
Can I leave my dog in the car
What are the rules for my dog in the car
This is pretty simple, just making sure that wherever you chose to put your pet in the car, that they’re comfortable. For some this may mean leaving them in a cage of some kind, this may mean giving them freedom within the car (making sure they don’t distract you), or maybe even the whole boot to themselves so that they can just chill out until you arrive at your destination.
Despite not many people doing it, there are options to buy a harness that can be fixed into the car so that when you are travelling your dog/ pet is secured by a seatbelt essentially, this will offer the most comfort and protection for your furry friend.
When you’re outside the car it’s important you understand how hot the ground is that your pet could be travelling on. There are plenty of options, buy some protective footwear (this may require training), carry them to a safe place, or if you’re feeling extra, then a stroller or a pram could be adequate to get your pets about in the scorching weather.
Well trained pets
As mentioned above, when you have your pets in the car with you, they can’t be a total distraction as that will definitely be dangerous whilst driving. If your dog or whichever pet you have with you is secured in your car they could get over excited as they don’t understand the concept of dangerous driving.
So it’s important to make sure that you’ve got them adequately trained to listen to you when you tell them to behave.
Familiar locations
This is more optional for you, but bringing your pet to a familiar location is a safer bet as they will know the journey better and are less likely to get upset or nervous and cause any problems.
It’s also just a comfort feature for your pet as if they know the place they’re going, you’re more likely to let them off their leash and can go wild instead of having to explore the whole area first.
Catering for you pet
When travelling with pets, making sure that they’re watered and fed is important, not only is this in relation to cooling down when it’s hot, but their bodies will also need fuel, not only to help them in the heat, but also so they can enjoy wherever you’re taking them!
Vet check ups
This is simply a precaution, making sure that your pet has had regular check ups at the vet and that they’re fully insured. This way, should anything happen then you’re covered and won’t have to worry about taking them to the vet.
Although having insurance won’t help prevent anything from happening to your best friend, it should help with peace of mind should it happen.
Equipment Checklist
This will vary from person to person, even though it’s mostly applicable to dogs, people still use different equipment for their pets and have different ideas of what’ll be good or useful when taking your pets out and about. Let’s take a look at the essentials;
- Lead/harness
- Bags for their waste
- Sufficient water supply
- Sufficient amount of food
- Some toys
- Towel, or something to protect the car seats(especially if water is involved)
- Feet protection
FAQ’s
Is it illegal to leave my pet in the car ?
It’s not illegal to leave your animal in the car, however, it is your legal responsibility to look after your animal. So if leaving them in a hot car causes illness or risk to your animal you could face animal cruelty charges.
The highway code does state that the animal needs to be reasonably fastened to prevent it causing any distractions to you whilst driving and make sure that it doesn’t injure you, or get any injuries should an emergency stop happen.
Yes, as long as you meet the standards for comfort and safety and ensure you never leave them alone in the hot weather.
Call 999, despite wanting to do more you will need to make a clear and correct assessment before taking matters into your own hands (like breaking a window) as this could lead to charges against you as well.
Dogs seem to love going for a ride in the car (especially listening to stereotypes!)