Dogs in cars

The main question remains, why did the car burst into flames. The fire service are saying that had sprinklers been fitted, their work would have been easier and more effective.

People who go to a horse show often have dogs, it goes with the territory. My dogs are very happy to hang out in the comfortable boot of my car. It tends to happen if we're away from home and don't want/or not allowed to leave the dogs in the rented accommodation. Dogs stay in their owners cars during ferry journeys etc. I haven't discussed this with my dogs but it seems they see the car as an extension of home with a strong link to me and fun activities.
I expect the dogs were well cared for Baggs and the last thing I want to do today is criticise owners whose dogs weren't lucky enough to be rescued by the fire service.

Yes that’s exactly what happens with us when we go on holiday. Our routine on days like that will be we go for a couple of hours walk with dog. Drive to car park, tell Duncan we are going “shopping” he curls up and sleeps we do what is necessary, and then off we go to enjoy more walks and countryside experience.

No problem with it whatsoever. My heart goes out to those who are grief stricken today for their dear extended “family” members.

I too was horrified to hear these people had left 4 dogs in a parked car. During the summer there are always campaigns about not leaving dogs in parked cars and I really see no difference to leaving them in a multi storey in Liverpool in winter. Besides welfare you are running the risk of them being stolen.

Dogs are usually safe in the back of a car during colder months. It's the summer heat that can kill them so that's probably why the owners didn't think twice about taking them.

I wouldn't feel happy about leaving mine at the top of a multi-story car park though. I don't know why. I just wouldn't.

Anybody able to give a link to the story? It would be nice to know what you're all talking about.

In my pretty extensive experience (30+years) of horse events people take their dogs to the event with them and take them around with them, on the lead; they don't leave them in their cars. But I know nothing about this story. Was it an indoor event in a city stadium? (Like, perhaps, the Horse of the Year Show?)

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jan/01/six-dogs-rescued-liverpool-multistorey-car-park-fire-horse-show
Hope this works - it was reported separately that one family had four dogs in a car and they didn't want to be named at that time.

I don't have a link, Mazie but it was an event in a stadium in Liverpool and the multi-story car park was close to the arena.

There's been another unexplained fire in the early hours of this morning at Woburn Safari Park where 13 monkeys have been killed in their winter enclosure.

Together with the fire at London Zoo that's three unexplained fires involving areas containing animals.

Am I the only one who finds this very odd?

Leaving dogs in a car in winter for 1 hour. 2hrs max, would be ok- but how long does a horse show last?

Merlot I was wondering about this too. Seems a bit of a stretch for three incidents. Yes, I believe 150 show horses were led to safety, being stabled close to the fire.

My worry re the dogs left in cars is how many were left in cars on the storeys that caught fire.

I think you'd be looking at least 3 or 4 hours for a stadium based show like that one. jura. Tickets are usually expensive so you wouldn't just pop in for an hour...

I hope the owners had a good reason for leaving their dogs in the car for so long. We leave our dog in the car for about an hour after we've been out with the local Ramblers because we usually end walks with a pub meal (very sociable group ), but I wouldn't do it for a longer period.

Oh, and thanks for the link, Lynnebo

I have also read there was a fire started by a firework that destroyed a hay barn and all equipment, fortunately the horses were not in the same building. All very sad and awful for people involved at Liverpool and the with the monkeys. I do think that there needs some updating of permissions to let fireworks off, the risk of starting fires is high.

Not only fireworks, but this new fashion for lit balloon lanterns let off at weddings, etc.