Petition · past parliament
Bring a law in to protect dogs who are being walked in high temperatures
Rejected
16 signatures
What the petition asks
Many irresponsible owners are walking their dogs in temperatures that at best are burning their paws and giving them heatstroke and at worse causing severe illness and in some cases death. All the time there is no penalty for walking a dog in these temperatures this will carry on.
Dogs have no voices, they need the Government to step in and protect them. By bringing in a law that makes it illegal to walk dogs over certain temperatures, and to face serious fines if you do, I’m convinced this will stop people doing it.
It’s heartbreaking seeing the number of people walking when temperatures are over 30 degrees, taking their dogs to the beach for the day, waiting outside school gates on baking hot pavements & watching these dogs pant & look generally uncomfortable & unwell
It’s heartbreaking seeing the number of people walking when temperatures are over 30 degrees, taking their dogs to the beach for the day, waiting outside school gates on baking hot pavements & watching these dogs pant & look generally uncomfortable & unwell
Why it was rejected
The UK Government or Parliament was already taking the action it asked for.
The Animal Welfare Act 2006 already makes it an offence if a person causes, by act or omission, an animal to suffer. This would cover suffering caused by taking a dog for a walk, or leaving a dog in a car, in excessive heat. Fines can be issued for these types of offences, as well as prison sentences.
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
Decisions about investigating alleged animal welfare offences and prosecuting these are a matter for the police and Crown Prosecution Service, not the Government or House of Commons.
If you're concerned about a specific incident, you may wish to report it directly to the RSPCA: https://www.rspca.org.uk/utilities/contactus/reportcruelty
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
Decisions about investigating alleged animal welfare offences and prosecuting these are a matter for the police and Crown Prosecution Service, not the Government or House of Commons.
If you're concerned about a specific incident, you may wish to report it directly to the RSPCA: https://www.rspca.org.uk/utilities/contactus/reportcruelty
Timeline
| 24 Aug 2022 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 26 Aug 2022 | Rejected by the Petitions Committee |
Key facts
Signatures
16
Status
Rejected
Rejected
26 Aug 2022
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.