Petition
Amend the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to protect dogs from heat-related suffering
Rejected
14 signatures
What the petition asks
We ask the UK Government to amend the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to make it a specific offence to knowingly exercise a dog in conditions that are likely to cause heat-related suffering.
Current legislation prohibits causing unnecessary suffering, but it does not specifically address exercising dogs in dangerous heat. Every year, dogs suffer and die from preventable heatstroke.
We believe the law should explicitly recognise that knowingly exercising a dog in conditions likely to cause heatstroke or severe heat-related illness is an animal welfare offence.
We believe the law should explicitly recognise that knowingly exercising a dog in conditions likely to cause heatstroke or severe heat-related illness is an animal welfare offence.
Why it was rejected
There was already a petition about this issue. Duplicates are rejected so signatures collect in one place.
You may wish to sign the following petition, which calls for similar action:
Make it illegal to walk dogs during extreme heat to prevent suffering and death.
Make it illegal to walk dogs during extreme heat to prevent suffering and death.
Make it illegal to walk dogs during extreme heat to prevent suffering and death.
Make it illegal to walk dogs during extreme heat to prevent suffering and death.
Timeline
| 22 Jun 2026 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 16 Jul 2026 | Rejected by the Petitions Committee |
Key facts
Signatures
14
Status
Rejected
Rejected
16 Jul 2026
Follow this petition
Sign in to get an email when the government responds, a debate is scheduled or held, or the petition closes.
Source: the official petition page. Last checked 17 Aug 2026.