THE NUMBER of reports about dogs being left in hot cars has hit a three-year high despite a major, national campaign.

In Merseyside the 163 calls were made to the RSPCA in 2018 about dogs being left in cars, up from 121 in 2017.

Now a number of animal agencies have joined forces with the animal welfare charity to spread the message that Dogs Die in Hot Cars.

Across England and Wales, the RSPCA emergency line received 8.290 reports last year despite key advice for members of the public to report emergencies to the police as officers can attend more quickly and have the power to gain entry to locked cars.

Dogs Die in Hot Cars campaign manager, Holly Barber said: “Last year was our busiest for three years with almost 8,300 emergency calls made to the RSPCA about this issue - that’s a 5% increase from 2017 and a 15% rise from 2016.

“It’s extremely concerning that despite all of our campaigning, dog owners are still ignoring our warnings and risking their pets’ lives by leaving them alone in cars on warm days.

"How many more dogs need to die before people realise that that split second decision - usually made due to convenience - could have life-changing consequences?”

What should I do if I see a dog in a car on a hot day?

In an emergency, RSPCA advise to dial 999 and report a dog in a hot car to police. This is due to the fact the RSPCA may not be able to attend quickly enough and due to the fact inspectors have no power of entry, they would need police assistance.

If the incident becomes critical and police cannot attend, people's instinct is to break into a car and free a dog but this could be classed as criminal damage. The RSPCA is advising that you must tell the police of your intentions and take plenty of photographs and footage of the dog as well as names and numbers of witnesses. The law states you must have a lawful excuse to commit damage if you believe that the owner of the property would consent if they knew the circumstances.

Once a dog is removed from a hot vehicle, it must be moved to a cool or shaded area and must be doused with cool water. Ensure the dog also drinks a small amount of water.

If the dog isn't displaying signs of heatstroke, find out how long it has been in the car, make a note of the registration and if in a shop car park, ask a member of staff to make an announcement over the tannoy.

You can call the RSPCA’s 24-hour emergency cruelty line on 0300 1234 999 for advice but, if a dog is in danger, dialling 999 should always be the first step.