CONCERNS have been raised over dogs being left in hot cars in Bangor hospital car parks.

Patients and visitors are being urged to leave their pets at home when visiting Ysbyty Gwynedd by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and RSPCA Cymru after staff highlighted animals being left in vehicles during the recent hot weather.

Meinir Williams, hospital director at Ysbyty Gwynedd, is urging visitors to stop bringing their pets to hospital when they visit family or have an appointment.

She said: “We have had a number of staff raise concerns that they have seen dogs left in vehicles on our car parks during this hot weather. This can be distressing for our staff and also wastes time and resources trying to find out who the car belongs to.

“This should not be happening on hospital sites and we would like to urge dog-owners to leave their pets at home when they are either visiting us for an appointment or seeing their friends or family.”

RSPCA Cymru continues to warn members of the public as to the potentially fatal dangers of leaving a dog in a car on a warm day.

RSPCA Superintendent Martyn Hubbard said: “Our message is clear – 'not long is too long.' Temperatures can rise rapidly inside cars and it is shocking to hear that visitors going to hospitals are not listening to the advice and keeping their dogs in cars whilst driving.

We urge people to keep their dogs at home.

“When it is 22°C outside, within an hour the temperature can reach 47°C inside a vehicle. This can cause heat stroke, and ultimately can have fatal consequences for dogs. Our advice remains that – in an emergency – people should dial 999 to report a dog in a hot car to the police.”

For additional information about what to do if an individual is worried about a dog in a hot car or a dog displaying signs of heatstroke, visit https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/health/dogsinhotcars