Brits have been warned not to leave animals in hot cars by pet insurance provider Halifax.
More than half (18.3 million) Brits have seen an animal left in a car on a hot day, while 1.5 million of these attempted to rescue the pet, according to research conducted by Halifax.
The pet insurance provider also warns that “irresponsible” animal owners could face a fine and a prison sentence.
Mathew Long, senior products manager at Halifax pet insurance, said: “First and foremost prevention is better than cure. Under no circumstances is it acceptable to leave a pet unattended inside a car on a warm or even mild day.
“Anyone that sees an animal suffering inside a hot car should phone both the Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) and the police immediately.
“It might take time for them to arrive so it is important to try and find the owner as well – for example using the tannoy system in a supermarket.”
The RSPCA also echoes the pet insurance provider’s warning, stating that dogs can die of heatstroke in a minimum of 20 minutes.
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