Petition · past parliament

Make it illegal to walk dogs over a certain temperature

Rejected 13 signatures

What the petition asks

Above 19 degrees can be far too hot to walk a dog. Heat stroke can be fatal for dogs in as little as 15 minutes. I want the government to introduce a law to say it is illegal to walk animals over a certain temperature.
Too many animals are suffering or dying from irresponsible owners walking them when it’s too hot outside. It’s far too hot for us to walk bare foot on the pavement so what makes people think it’s ok to walk dogs in unbearable heat!

Why it was rejected

It was not clear what the petition asked the UK Government or Parliament to do.

The Animal Welfare Act 2006 already makes it an offence if a person causes, by act or omission, an animal to suffer.

The Government's code of practice for the welfare of dogs, which provides owners and keepers with information on how to meet the welfare needs of their animals, and can be used in courts as evidence in cases brought before them relating to poor welfare, specifically highlights the risks of heat stress: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/697953/pb13333-cop-dogs-091204.pdf

Investigating possible breaches of the law are a matter for the police and courts, and not the Government or House of Commons.

Timeline

31 Jul 2020 Petition opened for signatures
5 Aug 2020 Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 13
Status Rejected
Rejected 5 Aug 2020

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.