Are you Risking Your Dog's life? 3.5 million Owners Are. Here's How

Would you stick your head out of the window?

An estimated 3.5 million dogs are in danger on UK roads, when owners drive with their dog’s head sticking out of the car window.

Safer Inside, a dog safety campaign launched today at Crufts by Tavo Pets, Vet Surgeon Dr Scott Miller and Dog Behaviourist Adem Fehmi, reveals 26% of UK motorists who own a dog admit to travelling with their dog in this critically unsafe way. The campaign aims to raise awareness and change behaviour.

Dr Scott Miller told That's Pets: “It’s a familiar sight on the UK’s roads, but a dog with its head sticking out of the car window, is at risk of eye-abrasions, debris or worse, jumping or falling from the moving car. 

"Tavo’s research revealed why owners are putting their dog at risk and the most shocking to me was a combined 48% weren’t even thinking about the welfare of their dog at all. 28% do it because they think it looks cute, and 20% because pedestrians enjoy it. That’s an estimated 3.5 million dogs being put in direct danger purely for ‘entertainment’.”

The Tavo Safer Inside research also revealed of those who allow their dog to travel in this way, 71% claim the dog enjoys it, 70% do it to give the dog fresh air and 43% believe it puts the dog at ease.

Expert dog behaviourist Adem Fehmi explains why this might not be so. “Dog behaviour is complex. Whilst some owners think a dog panting, with its head out of the window, is a sign they're enjoying the fresh air, panting can in fact be a sign of stress. Sitting inside a crash-tested carrier, inside the vehicle is the best option for creating security and a calm, happy dog.”

Lucy MacLeod, Borough Commander, Hammersmith & Fulham, London Fire Brigade offers a sobering perspective from the emergency services: “As firefighters we attend road traffic collisions across the country every day, and we unfortunately see the consequences when pets aren’t safely restrained in vehicles. As a dog handler and rescue specialist, I understand more than most how important it is to keep dogs properly secured when travelling.

“When we arrive at incidents the environment is loud, chaotic and stressful. Even the calmest well-trained dog can panic or react unpredictably around flashing lights, noise and unfamiliar people.

"This creates additional risks for emergency responders and members of the public alike. Keeping dogs safely secured inside the vehicle helps protect them, protects the people travelling with them, and allows us to carry out rescues safely.”

Tavo is leading safe pet travel with its range of occupant crash‑tested pet car seats, carriers and crates. Meeting the latest R129 United Nations ECE child restraint standards, these car seats use the vehicle’s integrated ISOFIX system to prevent rotation and provide maximum protection in the event of a collision.

The Safer Inside campaign builds on Tavo’s global initiative, Imagine the Impact, which calls for greater awareness of the dangers of unsecured pets in vehicles.

https://tavopets.com/uk

World Spay Day: Why It Matters for Our Pets and Our Communities

Every February, animal lovers across the globe mark World Spay Day, a campaign dedicated to promoting the life-saving benefits of spaying and neutering pets.

For those of us who share our homes with cats, dogs, rabbits or other companion animals, this isn’t just a date on the calendar. 

It’s a reminder that responsible pet ownership has a direct impact on animal welfare, local rescue centres and even public health.

Here at That’s Pets, we believe in celebrating the joy animals bring into our lives, and ensuring they live healthy, secure lives in return.

What Is World Spay Day?

World Spay Day began in 1995 in the United States and has since grown into an international awareness movement. Veterinary practices, charities and rescue organisations use the day to highlight:

The importance of preventing unplanned litters

The health benefits of spaying and neutering

The strain overpopulation places on rescue centres

In the UK, organisations such as RSPCA, Cats Protection, and Dogs Trust consistently promote neutering as a cornerstone of responsible pet care.

Why Spaying and Neutering Matter

1. Preventing Overpopulation

Even one unplanned litter can lead to dozens of future animals if offspring go on to reproduce. Sadly, rescue centres across Britain regularly report capacity pressures, particularly during kitten season.

Spaying and neutering reduce the number of unwanted animals entering shelters — which in turn reduces euthanasia rates and abandonment.

2. Health Benefits

For females, spaying can:

Eliminate the risk of uterine infections (pyometra)

Greatly reduce the risk of mammary tumours

Prevent complications during pregnancy

For males, neutering can:

Reduce the risk of testicular cancer

Lower the likelihood of prostate problems

Decrease roaming behaviours (and therefore accidents)

As always, timing and suitability should be discussed with your vet, as breed, age and health history matter.

3. Behavioural Improvements

Neutered pets are often:

Less likely to roam

Less prone to territorial marking

Less inclined towards hormone-driven aggression

While training and environment always play a role, neutering can significantly reduce hormone-related behaviours.

Addressing Common Concerns

“Will my pet gain weight?”

Weight gain is linked more to diet and exercise than the procedure itself. Adjusting food portions and maintaining regular activity usually prevents issues.

“Is it cruel?”

Modern veterinary techniques are safe and routine. Animals are given anaesthesia and pain relief, and most recover quickly, often returning to normal behaviour within days.

“Should I let my pet have one litter first?”

There is no medical requirement for a female to have a litter before being spayed. In fact, earlier spaying can offer greater protective health benefits.

The Wider Impact

Spaying and neutering don’t just benefit individual pets, they support the wider community. Fewer stray animals mean:

Less pressure on local councils

Reduced wildlife disruption

Lower public health risks

Better use of charity resources

In short, one decision at home can create a ripple effect across your area.

Marking World Spay Day

You could mark the day by:

Booking a neutering appointment if your pet is of suitable age

Sharing reliable information on social media

Donating to a local rescue

Volunteering time at an animal charity

Even a simple conversation can encourage responsible decisions.

Our pets rely entirely on us for their wellbeing. World Spay Day is not about judgement, it’s about informed, compassionate choices.

By taking proactive steps, we help ensure that every dog, cat and companion animal has the best possible chance of a healthy, wanted and loved life.

And that’s something worth celebrating.

Charity grant opens to support UK rescues caring for victims of the pet trade

Animal welfare charity Naturewatch Foundation is inviting rescues across the UK to apply for its annual Pet Rescue Grant, which supports animals harmed by the low-welfare and illegal pet trade.

Now in its third year, the grant provides funding for the rescue and rehabilitation of dogs, cats and rabbits who have been exploited for profit. These animals often arrive into rescue with complex physical and behavioural needs, making their care particularly challenging and costly.

One grant of up to £10,000 is available to UK-registered charities and CICs with an income up to £5 million, while a mini-grant of £1,000 is open to unregistered charities and community organisations in the UK.

The funding can be used towards veterinary treatment, behavioural support, specialist equipment or training, or other essential costs directly linked to the rescue and rehabilitation of animals impacted by the low-welfare pet trade.

Natalie Harney, Campaign Manager at Naturewatch Foundation, told That's Pets: “The Pet Rescue Grant is needed now more than ever. We’re hearing from animal rescues that costs are spiralling while animals arrive with increasingly complex welfare issues, and often require extensive veterinary care and behavioural support.

“At the same time, animals continue to be exploited for profit, trapping many dogs, cats and rabbits in a cycle of suffering where they’re treated like commodities. This grant is our small way of helping rescues give those animals the care they desperately need.

"Ultimately, though, we need the public to help end the illicit pet trade by making careful choices if they decide to welcome an animal into their home, either by supporting a reputable rescue through rehoming or acting responsibly if they do consider buying.”

Naturewatch Foundation campaigns to end low-welfare and illegal breeding. Last year, the charity revealed that four in five puppies in the UK come from unknown sources, with fewer than 20% originating from breeders who are subject to regulation and inspection. 

While the charity strongly supports regulation of the puppy trade, it also remains concerned that current rules, and their enforcement, are failing to adequately protect dogs and their puppies.

In recent weeks, Naturewatch Foundation has welcomed the UK government’s commitment to ending puppy farming, but says swift action is needed to make this a reality.

The organisation has also recently supported an open letter to Pets at Home, coordinated by Rescue Not Retail, urging the company’s new CEO to stop selling live animals in stores. The call aims to reduce impulse buying of small animals, including rabbits, rodents, fish and reptiles, whose welfare and care needs are often far more complex than new owners realise.

Expressions of interest for the Pet Rescue Grant open from 24 January to 14 February 2026.

Rescues can find out more at naturewatch.org/petrescuegrant.

That's Christmas 365: Twelve Dog Days of Christmas? Buying Christmas gif...

That's Christmas 365: Twelve Dog Days of Christmas? Buying Christmas gif...: Love them, can’t leave them – why 60% of pet owners always spend Christmas with their pets. Spending Christmas away from home, either with f...

That's Christmas 365: Animed: The One-Stop Pet Shop for Christmas and Be...

That's Christmas 365: Animed: The One-Stop Pet Shop for Christmas and Be...: When we’re busy preparing for Christmas, gifts, food, decorations, and all the festive trimmings, it’s easy to forget that our pets deserve ...

That's Food and Drink: How to Help a Constipated Cat at Home

That's Food and Drink: How to Help a Constipated Cat at Home: Caring for our pets goes hand in hand with caring for ourselves, and anyone who’s shared a home with a cat knows how worrying it can be when...

That's Food and Drink: “We Are Not Made of Soya!” – A Strongly Worded Com...

That's Food and Drink: “We Are Not Made of Soya!” – A Strongly Worded Com...: If cats were made of Soya, they'd look like the one on the left Greetings, humans. It is I: the large, handsome, magnificently whiskered...