With temperatures this week climbing as high as 28° C, keeping our dogs safe and healthy is essential - especially when travelling.

While the rules on whether you can take your dogs on ferries vary depending on the operator, it's still important to remember how to keep your dog safe in your truck or van if you are travelling around Europe in the hot weather with them.

A vehicle can become as hot as an oven very quickly, even when it doesn't feel that warm. When it's 22° C outside, it can reach an unbearable 47° C in your vehicle within the hour.

Less than 20 minutes in a hot vehicle can be fatal for a dog if its body temperature exceeds 41° C.

Advice to Dog Owners

• Don’t leave your dog in a parked vehicle, even for a few minutes - even if it seems cool outside it can become very hot very quickly. Parking in the shade and/or keeping the windows down does not make it safe! 
• Keep your dog as cool as possible when driving - avoid travelling during the heat of the day. Open a window a little to allow a cooling breeze to circulate in the vehicle 
• Make sure you have a supply of water and plan stop-offs on route for water breaks. Dogs are not able to cool down as well as humans so could suffer from heat stroke and dehydration very quickly 

If you have any questions about taking your dog (or pets) on a ferry this summer, speak to our customer service team who will be happy to offer advice.