4 in 10 Pet Owners Admit Leaving Animals Alone in Vehicle

With high temperatures expected for much of the week and into the June Bank Holiday weekend, AA Ireland is calling on motorists to take additional precautions in the heat, including avoiding leaving animals alone in their vehicle.

In response to an AA Car Insurance survey of over 4,000 motorists and pet-owners, almost 4 in 10 respondents (39.43%) admitted that they have in the past left their car unattended with an animal inside. With temperatures in the high teens and low 20s expected for much of the next week, the AA is calling on motorists to never leave an animal unattended in a car, warning that doing so could have dire consequences.

“Leaving your pet unattended in your car is a poor practice all year round, but it can cause serious damage to the animal or even prove fatal in the current temperatures. If your car is left sitting in the sun without windows open the internal temperature can rise to dangerous levels quite quickly, putting your loved family pet in serious danger,” Conor Faughnan, AA Director of Consumer Affairs warned. “Even if you’re only running into the shop for 5 minutes or you think it’s ok once you crack a window open, we are imploring motorists to exercise extreme caution here to avoid causing any harm to their animals.”

“With a long-weekend on the horizon many of us will be planning to take a long trip by car, either to go on a short break or to visit family. If you do find yourself having to stop along the way and you have a pet travelling with you, allow them the chance to get out of the car and cool down too.”

The AA Motor Insurance survey also found that just over a quarter of motorists give their pets a chance to get used to the car before any longer journeys. 26.94% of those surveyed stated that before taking their pet on any long trips by car, they take a few shorter trips in the preceding weeks so the animal can adjust to travelling by car.

“Travelling by car is something that we have become accustomed to and barely take notice of, but it can be a stressful experience for your pet. Taking the time to build up their confidence when it comes to travelling in a car can not only help the animal feel more secure but also makes the trip safer for you as a driver,” Faughnan added. “If your pet does become stressed out they could become a distraction in the car, increasing your risk of being involved in an accident, so it is important that motorists take extra precautions to help keep our roads safe.”

In the market for car insurance? With the AA you can receive an automatic €100 discount when purchasing car insurance online.