​Petition: Ban Dogs from the New Forest & Hampshire County Showground

​Petition Statement
​We, the undersigned visitors, dog owners, local residents, and supporters of animal welfare, call upon the New Forest Agricultural Show Society to ban non-working and non-assistance dogs from the showground when ambient temperatures reach 23°C (73°F) or above, or during periods covered by an official Met Office Heat Health Alert.

​While we appreciate that the New Forest Show aims to be a family- and dog-friendly event, bringing domestic dogs into a crowded, high-stress outdoor environment during summer heat poses a severe risk of fatal heatstroke, asphalt burn, and distress.

​Reasons for This Petition
​High-Risk Environment: The New Forest Show covers vast open terrain, often involving prolonged exposure to direct sunlight on grass, dirt, and hot walkways. Unlike wild spaces, crowded showgrounds lack continuous shade and generate localized heat islands from large crowds, tents, and vehicles.
​Preventing Heatstroke: Dogs cannot regulate their body temperature through sweating like humans do; they rely on panting. In crowded, hot environments, panting becomes inefficient, rapidly leading to heat exhaustion, organ failure, or death—often within minutes.
​Pavement & Ground Temperatures: Even on grass or packed earth, ground temperatures exposed to direct sunlight can far exceed air temperatures, posing a risk to sensitive paw pads.
​Stress Multipliers: Bright sun, high humidity, noise, dense foot traffic, and proximity to livestock create a high-cortisol environment that accelerates physical distress and increases thermal strain.
​The Risk of Dogs Left in Cars: Despite explicit warnings, high-volume summer agricultural shows consistently face instances of dogs left in parked vehicles, where temperatures can quickly reach lethal levels.
​Action Requested
​We respectfully urge the New Forest Agricultural Show Society to update its event entry policies to include the following Heatwave & High-Temperature Protocols:

​Implement a Temperature Threshold Policy:​Automatically ban non-assistance domestic dogs from entering the showground on any day where forecast local temperatures exceed 23°C.
​Pre-Event Communication & Refunds:​Clearly state the heatwave pet restriction policy on ticket booking portals, social media, and direct messaging prior to the event.
​Offer flexible rebooking or ticket options for dog owners who choose to leave their pets safely at home.
​Strict On-Site Enforcement:​Authorize gate marshals to refuse entry to non-assistance dogs during heatwave warnings.
​Increase security and welfare patrols in parking fields to monitor vehicles for trapped animals.
​Exceptions:​Registered Assistance Dogs (e.g., guide dogs, service dogs) and essential working/exhibiting dogs remaining under supervised cooling setups should remain exempt, provided dedicated shaded resting areas and hydration points are guaranteed.
​