Dog show organisers have come under fire for continuing yesterday’s outdoor event in spite of extreme heat and health advisories.
Temperatures reached 29C as the RSPCA issued health advisories and the Met Office issued an amber weather warning for severe heat in Dorset.
Because of this, several local events that included dogs had to cancel; nonetheless, the Bournemouth Championship Dog Show went on as scheduled.
At the event, owners and their dogs were spotted being forced to take cover behind tents without air conditioning.
Locals and animal specialists were furious and concerned about the health of the dogs participating in the dog show amid a heatwave before it even started.
We are all set to welcome you tomorrow to our first Open Show & the Championship Show on Saturday, the organisers said on Facebook on Thursday. Definitely NOT! The programme has not been cancelled.
We have plenty of covered spaces and a great refreshing wind. Additionally, we’ll have some cold water baths where your dogs can have a paddle (or you, if you’d like!)
Angry pet owners vented their frustrations in the comments area, calling the event “stupid, selfish, and irresponsible.”
One person wrote: “Years ago, I almost lost a champion dog at a Welsh KC Championship Show due to heat exhaustion.
There is now an Amber Warning from the Met Office of Extreme Heat of 36 degrees. Never again would I walk a dog in the sweltering heat only to get some cardboard.
Another person added: “Dogs may still have heat stroke even in the shade; however, there won’t be any air in marquees.”
“It’s up to the individual whether they bring their dog, but risking your dog for your own pride and ego to maybe win a displaying class is simply sheer folly and selfishness!”
The Bournemouth Dog Show is proceeding in this heat, a third person said.
I hope there will be veterinarians and animal welfare on standby to handle any possible calamities.
And please don’t yell at me; no matter how many flaps are open, those tents are like furnaces.
In the meanwhile, yesterday’s dog show at a local fair was cancelled because of the heat.
After it was predicted that the temperature would reach 34°C, the decision was made “for the welfare and protection of our furry pets,” but the remainder of the festival went on as planned.
The famous event attracted dog owners and their canines from far and wide to the Fyfield Village and Church Fair in Hampshire.
The tournament was supposed to last 30 to 40 minutes, but then the sun would have been at its zenith.
Yesterday, Phil Boyes, one of the event’s organisers, emphasised: “We have had to cancel the dog show.” It is due to the heat and the expert guidance we received from a vet.
The Bournemouth Championship Dog Show’s organisers responded to fierce criticism by claiming that “the show is not on asphalt” and that they had amenities like cold baths for animals in attendance on site.
Some social media users defended the programme in the meantime.
One person said: “Shows go on all the time in Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Africa, etc. As many have already said, everyone is familiar with their own dog.
“Don’t go if you don’t want to! Don’t criticise individuals for attending or the dedicated group that organises these events; they do it for free!’
Another person said, “There is only one very obvious response to people who believe it is wrong: simply don’t attend and let everyone else have the common sense to ensure that their dogs are kept cool and comfortable as I have seen at the shows lately.
“Worry about the pet owners strolling their dogs on the sidewalks, worry about the pets confined in hot homes – not folks accustomed to dealing with the care of their dogs at all times!!!!!”
The RSPCA’s Esme Wheeler, a dog welfare specialist, told The Dorset Echo: “We’re worried to learn that dog shows are being held during the heatwave and would advise organisers to put the wellbeing of dogs first and consider rescheduling or cancelling.”
We can’t emphasise enough how important it is that pet owners take the current situation seriously since the hot weather has gone from wonderful to severe.
“That includes keeping water on hand at all times, minimising or skipping walks, driving only when absolutely necessary, and providing moist, cool towels and mats as well as frozen snacks.
We continue to get complaints of dogs being abandoned in automobiles, as well as stories of many dogs being brought to crowded outdoor events like festivals, exhibitions, and fetes, as well as to the beach.
‘Don’t be that person who lumbers around a concert or drags their panting dog down the sidewalk. Please leave them at home, where they are safe and cool.
‘Knowing how to try and prevent heatstroke, as well as how to spot the signs of heatstroke in pets, could be a matter of life and death,’ the organisation says.
‘We’re urging anyone with a pet – whether it’s a dog or cat, a rabbit or guinea pig, or even chickens, horses, and exotic animals – to set aside some time today to read up on and make plans.’