Chris Smalling Is Dogs’ Defender in New PETA Video

For Immediate Release:

31 July 2018

Contact:

Jennifer White +44 (0) 20 7837 6327, ext 222; [email protected]

CHRIS SMALLING IS DOGS’ DEFENDER IN NEW PETA VIDEO

Manchester United Centre Back Urges Everyone Never to Leave Dogs in Hot Cars – and to Take Action When a Dog Is in Danger

London – As the summer heatwave breaks temperature records, Manchester United defender Chris Smalling and his beloved dogs, Ruben and Miley, are starring in a that warns of the dangers of leaving dogs in parked cars.

In the video, Smalling explains that on a 24-degree day, the temperature inside a car can reach 40 degrees in as little as 20 minutes. Because dogs can’t sweat and can cool themselves down only by panting, they can suffer from heatstroke and sustain brain damage in just minutes. As he says, “In the time it takes to pop into the supermarket for a loaf of bread, your best friend could bake to death.”

Smalling goes on to urge anyone who sees a dog or a child in a hot car to search for the vehicle’s owner, notify authorities if the right person can’t be located quickly, and stay on the scene until help arrives. If the freed dog is showing symptoms of heatstroke – such as restlessness, heavy panting, vomiting, lethargy, or lack of coordination – take the animal to a shady spot immediately. Stabilise the dog’s temperature by providing water and applying a cold towel to the head and chest or immersing the torso and limbs in tepid (not ice-cold) water. Then take the animal to a veterinarian.

“Be your dogs’ biggest defender,” Smalling concludes. “Never leave them in a parked car, even for a minute. Keep them cool. You’ll be glad you did.”

Smalling is part of a growing list of athletes – including David Haye, Danny Cipriani, Jade Dernbach, Darren Randolph, and – who have teamed up with PETA (whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”) to promote kindness to animals.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.uk.

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