Chris Smalling Comes to Dogs’ Defence in the Heatwave
With summer in full swing, Manchester United defender Chris Smalling and his beloved dogs, Ruben and Miley, joined PETA to talk about the danger of leaving dogs in parked cars in hot weather.
Temperatures have been rising well above the norm in the UK recently, but the temperature inside a car can reach 40 degrees in just minutes even on a 24-degree day.
If that sounds hot to you, imagine how intense it is for dogs, who can’t cool themselves down by sweating, as humans do. Their only means of avoiding overheating is panting, which loses all its effectiveness when they’re trapped inside a car with only hot air to breathe in.
“In the time it takes to pop into the supermarket for a loaf of bread, your best friend could bake to death,” Chris warns.
Mark Scriven
He goes on to urge anyone who sees a dog or a child in a hot car to search for the vehicle’s owner, call 999 if the owner of the vehicle can’t be found quickly, and stay on the scene until help arrives.
If a freed dog is showing symptoms of heatstroke – such as restlessness, heavy panting, vomiting, lethargy, or lack of coordination – the animal should be taken to a shady spot immediately. It’s essential to stabilise the dog’s temperature by providing water and applying a cold towel to the head and chest or immersing the limbs and torso in tepid (not ice-cold) water. The animal should then be taken to a veterinarian.
You don’t need to have “defender” in your job title to be your dogs’ biggest defender. Never leave them in a parked car, even for a minute. Always keep them cool, and make sure they’re safe – as Chris says, “You’ll be glad you did.”
Chris is part of a growing list of athletes – including Tim Shieff, David Haye, and Dean Howell – who have teamed up with PETA to promote kindness to animals.
Videographer: Mark Scriven
