A woman wants the regulations changed after her dog died when it was made to stay in her car on a ferry.

Oliver died on a Dover crossing because DFDS rules forbade him from being brought out of the vehicle.

Now owner Lisa Hall has raised a petition, which had more than 33,000 names earlier this week, demanding the rules be changed on animals travelling on ferries.

DFDS says it is now reviewing its policy.

"Why aren’t companies accountable too? Oliver was not allowed out of the car as this is DFDS policy that dogs must stay in the car at all times. This is not a law it is a rule" - Ms Hall

Ms Hall said: “Our trip was just two hours long but Oliver’s body couldn’t cope.

"We followed all the procedures with windows open and lots of water as per DFDS rules.

"During the two hour trip we asked a member of staff if we could check on him and were told no.

"Oliver died through overheating. He died alone in our car.

“Oliver was the most beautiful dog. He was the best in the world and will never be forgotten.”

Ms Hall, from the town of Calne in Wiltshire, had with her family taken the 4am sailing from Dover to Dunkirk on Wednesday, September 7.

Temperatures that day in the South East ranged from 14C to 22C, two to three degrees above average.

But Ms Hall added: “Cars can become as hot as an oven very quickly even when it doesn’t feel that warm.

“When it is 22 degrees in a car it can reach a temperature of 47 degrees within 60 minutes.

“These hot temperatures literally cook the brain and the delicate tissue of the body resulting in serious illness and frequent deaths. Oliver was subject to this.”

She stressed that if an owner leaves their dog in a car and it becomes ill or dies they can be charged with animal cruelty under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and face up to six months in prison and/or be fined up to £20,000.

She says: “Why aren’t companies accountable too? Oliver was not allowed out of the car as this is DFDS policy that dogs must stay in the car at all times. This is not a law it is a rule.

“Please don’t let Oliver’s death be in vain. We call on DFDS to stop forcing owners to keep their dogs in cars while travelling on ferries and to find alternative arrangements to keep dogs safe and happy.”

The petition had 33,844 supporters by Tuesday morning.

Jo Kendall, spokesman for DFDS, said: “We sincerely regret the sad loss of Ms Hall’s pet dog, Oliver, during the family’s journey on our Dover to Dunkirk service.

“Our initial investigation indicated that Ms Hall’s vehicle was parked in a well ventilated area of the car deck, with the windows open to assist with airflow, as our policy on the carriage of pets advises.

“The cause of Oliver’s death is unclear. We are currently reviewing our procedures and will include learning points from this incident in this process.”

P&O Ferries spokesman Dan Bridgett said: “Because our English Channel crossings (Dover/Calais only) are just an hour and a half dogs are kept in their cars.

“But in our North Sea crossings, Hull to Zebrugge or Rotterdam, crossings are 10 to 12 hours so kennels are provided for them.”