I wonder what other dog owners think of messages placed around Station Approach, warning us of the risks of hot pavements to our pets’ paws and instructing us not to walk between certain hours in hot weather. While the person who placed these notices is clearly a dog-lover with the best of intentions, I, for one, have some reservations about the wisdom of telling other people what they should and should not be doing.
For a start, no walking my dog between 8am and 8pm? Who invented these times? Even the RSPCA keeps its advice general and talks of “early morning or late evening” which allows pet owners a degree of judgement in the matter.
There is also the issue of the effect these notices have on those of us who have made the decision to have our dog with us between these times. Sometimes it is unavoidable, for example for people on the way to the station following an overnight stay in Rye. Sometimes I walk my dog into town before it gets too hot, taking plenty of water for him, then we get the bus back together, avoiding walking back in too much heat. These are the kind of decisions sensible dog owners make, taking into account the circumstances on the day and their intimate knowledge of their own pet. I do not take kindly to the implication that I am a bad owner if I am out and about with my dog between these arbitrary hours.
Finally, where does all this end? Should I print off some notices reminding well-built men to keep their shorts up at waist level to avoid offence? What about some parenting advice or something about shouting into mobile phones? Of course, I have no intention of doing any of those things, but I hope this isn’t the start of a trend of shaming those we disagree with, however well-intentioned we may be.
What do you think about these notices? Have they helped to remind you of an important issue or do you resent being told how to look after your dog? Let us know!
Image Credits: David Mcloughlin .
The issue is wider than the time of day. Tarmac and pavements absorb and then radiate heat, not only burning dog’s paws but also overheating their underbelly where the fur is thinner and consequently major internal organs (explained to me by a vet). Walk on grass and in tree shade where possible.
I don’t think the point is to boss sensible dog owners about — it’s the rest of them! I had nothing to do with the signs, but I do sigh over the number of visitors dragging their dogs around the town in the hot midday sun. Surely a little forethought would lead to the conclusion that their pets are better off at home? It feels selfish to me, as though people are deciding that THEY want a day out, and they haven’t bothered or don’t want to pay for someone to take care of their pooches. Probably they don’t think about their dogs’ welfare at all when they decide a trip to Rye would be nice. Just go to the High Street on a Sunday lunchtime and count how many dogs are out in the broiling sun . . .
If the anonymous animal lover is reading this, I thank them for trying.
Hear, hear. Well said Jane.
If the signs are on public property they should be removed. Alternatively one could put up signs reminding dog owners to pick up left behind poo but I doubt a sign would alter impolite behaviour.
I don’t have a dog and don’t know about any effects on dogs, but what disturbs me about these notices is that no source or authority is given and the wording is that of an order, not advice. Would the person who put them up please step forward.
Good grief, there is endless advice online but some people either don’t see it or ignore it. Rather like the woman I spotted dragging her obviously distressed dog, that had stopped and refused to move any further, by its lead. The dog was small enough for her to have carried it home, poor thing.
I can’t speak for other dog owners, but throughout the five heatwaves we’ve had this summer, I’ve walked my dog twice a day every day between 8am and 8pm. Dogs benefit hugely from walking, for their mental and physical wellbeing. Not walking them is cruel, and there’s no need to walk them at weird times of day, unless you feel so inclined.
Not only has my dog never burned his paws on a pavement, he’s never evidenced any discomfort whatsoever. Physics suggest that a walking dog is much less likely to burn its paws than a static one, as the paws are only intermittently in contact with the hot surface. And yes, I do take a view, so limit time on hard surfaces continuously exposed to the sun. And yes, I do from time to time go and stand barefoot on the tarmac to gauge the temperature for myself.
Dogs’ paws are a lot tougher than human feet, my dog will run on snow or gravel or prickly scrubland in a way that would be impossible for most bare-footed humans. I was far more concerned about the sharp stone chips on the pavement resulting from the resurfacing of the road on Rye Hill recently, but he was ok with this too.
No one cares more about my dog than I do, and no one understands his needs more than I do, so I do find it upsetting that people who know precisely nothing about my dog think it’s ok to shout abuse at me from their van or shake their head at me in the street.
The petty authoritarian sign above is particularly obnoxious, as it perpetrates misconceptions and prejudice. Maybe the wannabe goody two shoes can now reveal their identity, so we can have a proper discussion, rather than taking the drivel you read on social media as gospel?
One final comment: many people assume that because my dog is panting in the heat, he ‘needs water’. Whilst it’s a kind thought, and may indeed accept water offered to him, that is unlikely to be true, as I would have ensured he had access to water within the last hour. Unlike humans, dogs cannot sweat through their skin, so pant to achieve homeostasis from the cooling effect of water evaporating off their tongue. It is not a sign of distress.
Excellent response.
There have been thousands of posts on this topic, often posted by people who don’t actually have a dog. Making a dog hold its bladder from 08am to 08pm is not practical and puts a strain on the bladder and kidneys and can cause infections. Has the sign-maker tried holding their bladder for 12 hours? Responsible dog owners know what to do. Irresponsible dog owners wont take a blind bit of notice of someone’s sign. And far too many make a judgement without knowing the circumstances. I’ve had a a know-all shout at me making a judgement because they saw me on the Salts allowing my dog to have a quick sniff and pee a mere 2 minutes from my house. Those of us with gardens will know many dogs are happier outside than trapped inside. Despite having plenty of shade in my garden my dog seems to enjoy laying in the sun. That’s his decision. I also find the comment “why don’t you put on a fur coat and walk bare foot in the sun and see how you like it?” … yet when the temperature drops below zero those same people do not say “put an extra fur coat on your dog and some warm boots”
I trust there will now be a new notice saying Don’t walk your dog in the rain without first putting little wellies on him/her?
It all sounds a bit Big Brother to me: any dog owner with a modicum of common sense would avoid purposely burning their pets’ paws on hot pavements. I used to be in a local drumming group and the amount of dog owners who deemed it acceptable to bring their dogs to regular events such as Jack in the Green and worst of all, Bonfire Night was appalling.
If we wanted to bring people’s attention to possible harm to their pets, there would be notes everywhere.