RSPCA issues heatwave safety advice for pets
The RSPCA has given advice on keeping pets safe during the heatwave as calls for help surge, including tips on hydration and avoiding hot pavements.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The RSPCA has issued urgent advice for pet owners as a heatwave continues to drive a surge in calls for help. The charity said it has been inundated with inquiries about keeping animals safe in the hot weather, with staff describing it as the busiest period they have ever known.
Among the key recommendations are ensuring pets have constant access to shade and fresh water, avoiding walks during the hottest part of the day, and checking pavements for heat before letting dogs walk on them. The RSPCA also warned that heatstroke is a serious risk, describing it as a "silent killer". The charity reported a 9,000% increase in people visiting its website to research heatstroke symptoms.
Practical tips include using frozen dog treats, playing indoor enrichment games, and applying pet-safe sunscreen to vulnerable areas such as cats' ears. Owners are urged to exercise animals only in the early morning or late evening, effectively observing a "dog lockdown" during peak heat hours.
The warning comes as some parts of the country face hosepipe bans, but exemptions are in place for animal welfare. Watering pets, livestock, and fish, as well as watering food crops, remain permitted. Customers with medical conditions that prevent them from adjusting water use are also exempt.
The RSPCA also highlighted its ongoing work rescuing animals from cruelty and neglect. One of the animals featured in the advice segment was Leo, a two-year-old dog rescued from a cruelty case, who is now looking for a rural home. The charity said it receives a call about an animal being mistreated once every ten minutes.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | ITV |
|---|---|
| The RSPCA receives a call about animal mistreatment once every ten minutes. | |
| The RSPCA reported a surge in heat-related pet safety inquiries, including a 9000% increase in people researching heat stroke on its website. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The report focused on a local RSPCA centre in Somerset, using a rescue dog named Leo as a visual hook to deliver practical heat safety advice. The tone was warm and human-interest driven, with the reporter interacting with staff and the dog. It also briefly mentioned hosepipe ban exemptions for animal welfare, tying the story to regional water restrictions.
- “they've never known a busier time”
- “we've had a nine thousand percent increase in people going on our website”
- “it is a silent killer”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.