Make it illegal to walk dogs in dangerously hot weather in the UK

Background

Introduce legislation making it illegal to walk dogs in dangerously hot weather when temperatures or hot pavements create a serious risk of heatstroke, burns, injury or death. Dogs are vulnerable to heatstroke and can suffer serious injury or death in extreme heat, causing avoidable suffering.

Additional details

This petition is not asking for a blanket ban on all dog walking in warm weather. It asks the Government to define “dangerously hot weather” using veterinary guidance, including both air temperature and pavement surface temperature. The goal is to strengthen enforcement under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 by explicitly recognising knowingly walking dogs in dangerous heat as animal neglect or cruelty.