Warning for owners and drivers as three dogs killed on Slapton line in a month

Local woman raises the alarm about dogs on Slapton Line as three dogs have been hit and killed in the last month. 

Jessie Watson, Queen's Arms Slapton, has contacted us to help us warn dog owners and drivers after a series of tragedies. 

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Jessie said: "In the past month over three dogs have been killed on the line because of negligence of the owners, and a multitude of near misses, in which I was involved in! 

"Made my heart sink seeing a dog on the line and a car in the opposite direction hurtling towards it! I stopped, called the dog off the road and told the owner to put his dog on a lead! 

"Also people walking their dogs on the main road in the hottest part of the day, not thinking about the temperature of the tarmac.

"Though it seems this is holiday makers, people need to be aware, it’s not just the dogs but the people that have to live with the devastation that they have killed a pet.

"People walk dogs of the lead ley side and don’t think the dogs follow the entrances onto the road, in my case the man was on the beach sunbathing and not watching his dog. His dog was lucky as I stopped, and stopped the other car.

"It seems for some reason people have just forgotten about the responsibility of their dogs."

Dog heatstroke symptoms 

According to the RSPCA, if you see a dog in a car on a warm day, you should "assess the dog's condition, if they're showing any signs of heatstroke, dial 999 at once". 

The website reads: "If the dog's condition is critical, and the police haven't arrived yet, your instinct will be to break into the car to free them. But please be aware that this could be classed as criminal damage. You may need to defend your actions in court, so please be sure you're doing the right thing.

"Legally, you can commit damage if you believe the car owner would consent to it if they knew the dog was in danger.

"If you're sure you need to free the dog, tell the police what you intend to do and why. Take photos or videos of the dog. Are there any other witnesses? Take their names and telephone numbers.

"Don't be afraid to dial 999. If it's an emergency, we may not be able to get to you - and the dog - quickly enough. And as we have no powers of entry, we'd need to ask the police to help us rescue the dog. Don't worry - the police will soon let us know if the dog needs our help."