SPENDING a few days in London and on the Sussex coast last week, I was shocked to see people walking dogs on city streets in the searing midday heat.

We wouldn’t walk around in bare feet on scorching hot pavements, so why expect dogs to? It must be like walking on hot coals.

I’m sure these people love their dogs, but they need to apply some common sense, and compassion, when it comes to taking them for walks, and stick to early mornings and evenings when temperatures are cooler, preferably somewhere with water.

I saw one woman sitting in a park, engrossed in her phone, with a long-haired husky-type dog panting beside her. No doubt showing off her expensive pedigree dog on Instagram, while the poor thing sat in brutal sunshine, with no shade or water.