Dogs and heat - what is wrong with people

[honeyandbutterontoast]

I know this topic has been talked about a lot but I will never understand why people go out in the heat with their dogs.

DD has just phoned me in floods of tears over someone she has just seen out with their dogs. In a very nice part of London (not that it should matter I know), in about 32 heat. A woman striding along with 2 black pugs on the pavement, not on leads. One was visibly distressed but trying to keep up with her, the other quite a way behind who was drooling and stumbling. There were quite a few people staring but nobody intervened.

Why have a dog if you are going to cause it this kind of suffering?!

Does your Dd normally cry at random pugs is she always so emotional?

I don’t know, they must think the walking is more important for the dog. It’s ridiculous, dogs will not die from not going out but will from the heat
Terrible pet owners, probably same people who take babies and toddlers out in buggies and don’t put sun visor on etc. It’s neglect

My DD cries at people being so cruel to their animals. I think that’s a normal human reaction?

we have a pug, she knows how much they struggle with their breathing on a normal day.

It’s pure selfish and animal neglect. 32 yesterday afternoon and I passed a couple walking 2 black poodles in full sun. Utter madness.

Tbf anyone who owns a pug is not my idea of a good dog owner in the first place, their continued existence is cruel in my opinion. What made you choose a deformed brachycephalic breed?

Not that it is anything to do with you, but 8 years ago when we got ddog there was nowhere near the amount of knowledge of these kind of breeds. Would I make these choices now? No.
She has had extensive surgery and with care, has a fairly normal dog life. I know of several vets/vet nurses who have pugs so I certainly don’t believe having a pug makes someone a bad dog owner.

Taking any dog out in today’s temperatures makes that person a bad dog owner. Irrespective of breed.

There definitely was knowledge of this!

So tired of all the virtue signalling over dogs these past few days. Yawn

How on earth do you think dogs in the tropics and the middle east cope? It's not even that hot here at the minute. Your DD needs to get a grip, as do you

Wow back off

This too. I'd worry more about all the inter breeding and mutant dogs this is creating that have massive health issues and shortened life spans as a result. Now that is cruel

They lay in the shade- panting. If they need to walk to a drink they do so slowly and then go back and lay in the shade. They don’t get taken for walks in the midday heat!!

What is wrong with people?

Good question. The owner is oblivious I guess. Too busy living her own life to consider anyone else. Probably doesn't mean to hurt them but is not going to do anything different to what she wants to ensure that doesn't happen.

The people who stopped and stared and did nothing? Easier to turn a blind eye than actually do something.

Expect your arse to absolutely handed to you @honeyandbutterontoast if it hasn't been already. Such is the way of MN.

I walked our small, short haired, young, long nosed dog at 5am this morning. It was already 20 degrees.
No dog needs to be out in this now.

Ok but the OP's DD also did nothing, other than phone her mum in tears. I'm sorry she was so upset but she also didn't help the dogs.

Is your daughter an adult?

I went to the supermarket this am and there were several announcements about a dog that had been left in a car!

Yes there were people walking dogs yesterday afternoon here at about 5pm. It was still about 26C, lots more in the sunshine.

It’s called empathy. A good sign of emotional intelligence. Clearly, you have none 🤷‍♀️

Oh no! I would have put the window in.

Awful. The ground will be too hot for their paws which will get burnt and they are a breed that struggle to breathe. Some dog owners really shouldn’t have dogs because they haven’t got a fucking clue. There’s some ignorant posters on this threads too who are best ignored. Don’t feed the trolls and all that.

And for any smart arse that wants to comment on anything I’ve said here you go:

RSPCA
Walkies
go out in the early morning or late evening when it’s cooler

pavements can get very hot! You know the saying, "it's hot enough to fry an egg!" Imagine what that does to your poor dogs' feet! If the ground is too hot to touch with your hand for five seconds, it’s too hot for paws!

https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/seasonal/summer/dogs

I’m surprised no one did, especially after they ignored the first announcement.

And fwiw I walked my dog (collie cross) round the woods at 8am when it was warm but nicely shaded. Quite pleasant in fact. I certainly wouldn't drag her round town or on a pavement in very hot weather but then I don't really take her to town anyway because...she's a dog and thus prefers the woods/river/beach/park. You know, dog places where she can do dog things.

My dog (Samoyed so very fluffy!) is grumping she's being denied walks until nighttime! 😋

I agree there is absolutely no reason for a dog to be out walking in the midday heat. I have been taking out our 8month old GR first thing in the morning, making sure we only.walk in shady woodland areas. This morning I couldn't get her out first thing so she will either get walked late this evening or she will miss a walk... it won't kill her for a day but walking in this heat could well be fatal.

I'm amazed at the amount of dog owners who are either ignorant to this advice or just don't care about their dogs

DD is a student, living away from home. What exactly could she have done? Confront this person? Taken the dog? Both things I might have considered doing.

She phoned me because she was sad. Because she witnessed animal cruelty and didn’t know what she could do or should do.

And yet somehow this is an attack on someone who owns a pug (currently slumbering in front of a fan in a cool house who hasn’t been walked today because it was too hot at 6am).