Community organisations in Cornwall are putting out warnings to dog owners advising they don't take them out during the hottest hours of the day.
Perranporth Community Fire Station has warned dog owners to be careful about taking their pets out during the hottest hours of the day due to the temperature of pavements and walkways.
Given the recent bout of hot weather, the station decided to find out how hot the pavement outside its premises was using a thermal imaging camera and discovered it was a paw-burning 38 degrees.
In a statement put out on its social media page, which included the image from the station's heat-sensing camera, Perranporth Community Fire Station said: "It’s another lovely hot day out here again.
"Here’s a quick temperature check of the pavement outside the station using our thermal imaging camera: 38 degrees already and it’s only 11:30!
"Remember our four-legged friends don’t have shoes like we do, so don’t walk them in this heat."
In a similar experiment, Devon Lost Dog Search and Rescue CIC took several images with a thermal imaging camera to compare the differences in temperature of various surfaces on which they had seen dogs being walked.
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The results saw temperatures vary from 22.8C on patches of shaded grass up to 55.4C on concrete pavements and even 58.2C on artificial grass.
In an update on its social media page regarding the images, Devon Lost Dog Search and Rescue CIC said: "We have gone out this afternoon, and compared surfaces that we have seen dogs being walked today.
"Results as follows: Shaded Grass - 22.3C, Grass in Full Sun - 28.3C, Beach Sand - 45.7C, Gravel Path - 47.1C, Concrete Path - 55.4C, Artificial Grass - 58.2C.
"All images were taken between 13:20 & 14:10 today (18 July) and in the same area."
"To say we were shocked at the temperatures, even in the shade is an understatement.
"Dogs will not notice if their walk is later on in the day when it is cooler, or even if they don’t get a walk today.
"Just think, would you walk barefoot on tarmac at these temperatures?
"Please think about the welfare of your dogs, it’s far too hot for them."
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