Despite the REPEATED warnings, some Dog owners are STILL not getting the message!
Tuesday 26th June | by Cop(ex) | Twitter: @ES_Humour
As temperatures are set to hit their peak for the year so far, a senior Cop from Devon and Cornwall Constabulary has condemned a dog owner who left their pet in their boiling hot car for 40 minutes!
PC Freshwater, a local neighbourhood Officer, was alerted to the distressed dog by a concerned member of the public and quickly made his way to the vehicle.
PC Freshwater told local press that he was expecting to have to smash the windows of the vehicle in order to get the dog out.
However, the owner of the dog appeared at the same time as PC Freshwater who informed the owner that he would not have thought twice about smashing the windows of the vehicle.
PC Freshwater tweeted: “Just been to a report of a dog left in a car for 40mins. It’s currently 26 degrees.
Luckily you got back to the car before I arrived, because if that dog was distressed or suffering, I wouldn’t have hesitated. #DogsDieInHotCars #Plymouth #Police”.
This incident occurred almost two years after the same Police Officer was pictured posing with another dog he had rescued that had been left inside of a car on a summers day with no water.
PC Freshwater tweeted at the time: “3hrs in a cage, in a car with no water. Your car is now missing a window and I’m dog-sitting…”
The RSPCA has warned that leaving your dog in a hot car even for just a few minutes can risk the dog dying from heat exhaustion.
The temperature inside of a car can be DOUBLE of what the external temperature is in just a few minutes.
The RSPCA also has this advice on its website regarding what you should do if you spot a dog that has been left in a vehicle on a hot day:
What to do if you see a dog in a car on a warm day
In an emergency, we may not be able to attend quickly enough, and with no powers of entry, we’d need police assistance at such an incident.
Don’t be afraid to dial 999, the police will inform us if animal welfare assistance is required.
Help a dog in a hot car
- Establish the animal’s health and condition. If they’re displaying any signs of heatstroke dial 999 immediately.
- If the situation becomes critical for the dog and the police are too far away or unable to attend, many people’s instinct will be to break into the car to free the dog. If you decide to do this, please be aware that without proper justification, this could be classed as criminal damage and, potentially, you may need to defend your actions in court.
- Make sure you tell the police what you intend to do and why. Take pictures or videos of the dog and the names and numbers of witnesses to the incident. The law states that you have a lawful excuse to commit damage if you believe that the owner of the property that you damage would consent to the damage if they knew the circumstances (section 5(2)(a) Criminal Damage Act 1971).
Once removed, if the dog is displaying signs of heatstroke, follow our emergency first aid advice. This could mean the difference between life and death for the dog.
If the dog isn’t displaying symptoms of heatstroke
- Establish how long the dog has been in the car. A ‘pay and display’ ticket could help.
- Make a note of the car’s registration. If the owner returns, but you still feel the situation was dangerous for the dog, you may still report the incident to the police.
- If you’re at a shop, venue or event ask the staff to make an announcement to alert the owner of the situation.
- If possible, get someone to stay with the dog to monitor their condition. If they begin to display signs of distress or heatstroke, be prepared to dial 999.
- You can also call our 24-hour cruelty line for advice on 0300 1234 999. However, if the dog’s in danger, dialling 999 should always be the first step.
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