People walking their dogs in the blazing sunshine has sparked anger in Wiltshire.
A local woman claims to have spotted a man throwing balls for his two black labradors on The Green in Devizes this afternoon (16 June), despite temperatures reaching 24°C/76°F.
Taking to Facebook to air her concerns, she wrote: “People seriously need to stop walking their dogs in this heat, the amount of people I’ve seen today is ridiculous. Stop being so selfish!
“I would love to see you walking around in coats and bare feet in this heat and see how it feels.”
Another Wiltshire resident claimed that she saw more than ten dogs being walked in Devizes at around midday today.
Walking dogs in high temperatures come with the risk of heatstroke or paw damage sustained by touching tarmac that has been roasted by the sun’s rays for hours.
The RSPCA recommended dog owners walked their pets in the morning or evening – when it’s cooler.
The animal welfare charity also suggests that dog owners test the pavement with their own hands – by holding their palm to the surface for five seconds – before taking their pets out for a walk. If it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for your dog.
