Is this animal cruelty?

[Globules]

It's the hottest day of the year.

Today I have visited a beautiful tourist attraction. It is mostly outside. Everywhere I looked I saw dogs.

Panting.
Hot.
Seeking out shade.
Walking slowly.

I watched one Lassie dog roll around in the shade of a tree trying to cool down.

I saw another being carried. I heard the owner tell their companion they felt the tarmac paths were too hot for their paws.

Surely the best place for dogs in this heat is inside, in the shade, with constant access to a full bowl of water.

I think it's so cruel taking them out in this heat and the owners who do so are neglectful.

AIBU?

I walked mine at 8:30 this morning on fields. It was hot then. I took water with me and gave home a cool shower when we got home. It's way too hot later in the day

It was a different temperature all over the country so you are being unreasonable to assume it’s all one homogenous place.

It's unnecessary. I wouldn't have mine out in the heat for something like that personally. However, all dogs are different I guess. You see lots of dogs in tropical climates.

we live in a touristy area and sitting in my shop it gives me the rage watching people wandering around with dogs in blistering heat. I realise lots are on holiday but why cannot one person sit under a nice cool tree or similar, take the dogs to the river etc while one person looks round town then swap over? my dogs can either be in our lounge which is cool, in our bedroom with fan on plus back door is left open as its a secure garden if they need to go out. on holiday we go to the beach early then go back to the chalet with the french windows open in the day

Agree. Some dogs struggle to stay cool in hot weather. I have kept mine indoors and walk him at the coolest time as PP. He doesn't mind playing indoors in the cool, and actually parks himself in front of the fan.

It is cruel and stupid, yes. No dog has ever died from missing a walk, dogs have died from being exercised in inappropriate weather.

I have a campervan and two labradors. I regularly come home early from trips away if it's too hot, it's just not fair on them.

As for walking from home, we're on the beach by 7am, then I have to ignore the constant eye beseeching pleading to go out for another mooch until early evening.

I hate seeing poor dogs being dragged along, panting and miserable, but guess no one sets out to make their animals life a misery, and needs must sometimes.

Mine can whine and nag me all he likes, he is not going out until the evening when it’s cooler, and then we are only going to the beach or river where there’s cool ground underfoot and cool water to swim in!

Yes in some cases it is cruel. I have razor sharp eyes for whether they are carrying water or not. The ones who make me angrier are those who are jogging with dog tied round waist or cycling with dog. and no water with them. I live 7 mins from the beach. People might assume I'm being cruel being out with my dogs late morning, but I actually drive to the sea front and they go straight into the sea. Where we are the pavement is rarely to hot to stand on. It's easy to judge, but I guess we all do.

It absolutely is animal abuse. People are so bloody thick. Leave the dog at home!

The attraction that OP was at with all the dogs, quite obviously wasn’t in a different part of the country to where she was 😵‍💫

I had to take a dog to the vet for an emergency appt in a heatwave once in a city in Europe, temperature in the low 40s. It was awful walking from the car, with people telling me off.

Currently have a dog who refuses to relieve himself in the garden or anywhere near the house and has to be walked to the nearest meadow. Luckily we can get there mostly in the shade. He’s from a hot country but I wish he would go in the garden when it’s over 26c.

I actually try to go as late in the morning as possible so my dog sleeps through the hotter part of the day. And we walk slowly as the vet advised.

I knew someone who had a rescue dog from Spain who was fine in the heat. Some dogs are, but most are not.

My own dog is an old black greyhound (so 3 risk factors for getting too hot), and she keeps going out in the garden to bake.

I agree in principle but some people might be on holiday and unable to leave the dog at the accommodation. They should be trying to keep the dogs cool though, rather than walking them all over the place.

Previously we've taken dogs away but we've always walked them in the morning, been back before midday and gone out again in the evening.