Cops Smash Window to Save Dog Trapped Inside Boiling-Hot Car, but Owners Aren’t Happy

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With hot summer upon us, it’s never wise for owners to leave their dogs alone in a parked vehicle. Animals can die in hot cars, particularly dogs, as they sweat only through their paw pads and cool themselves by panting.

On July 24, police officers in Plymouth, Devon, southwest England, responded to a call about a canine trapped in the back of a vehicle at the coach station car park near The Newmarket Tavern in Market Way, Plymouth Herald reported.

When the officers arrived on the scene after 4 p.m., they found the dog inside a hot car with its owners nowhere in sight. Apparently, the owners had gone shopping leaving the poor dog behind.

Fearing for the worst, one of the officers decided to take matters into his own hands. He smashed the car window to rescue the dog that was at risk of overheating.

After escaping the boiling-hot car, the dog was so elated to be set free that it jumped up at the officer. The pooch was then taken to the vet by the RSPCA officer for examination before an animal cruelty prosecution decision was to be made.

As the officers arranged for the car to be removed, the dog’s owners returned. Seeing their car window smashed, they were not too happy despite the danger of their dog dying as a result of overheating. “They weren’t happy with us because their window was put in,” PCSO Tracy Cunningham told media outlets.

The Charles Cross Police Team posted the images of this rescue on Twitter with the hashtag #DogsDieInHotCars. “Another dog left in the sun, another window smashed! This little guy was alone for over 3 hours. If you love your furry friends, please THINK. He was very happy to be set free!” the Charles Cross Police Team wrote.

“Another window smashed.” Clearly, that was not the first time the cops smashed the windows of a sweltering car to save a dog. Police were forced to do this many times as a blistering heatwave swept across the United Kingdom.

On the same day, another dog was found locked inside a vehicle at a car park in Leeds. Though the car window was slightly open, the dog was still seen panting as it waited on the front passenger seat for its owners to return from their shopping trip at Colton Retail Park, LeedsLive reported.

Sergeant Ian Micklethwaite from the Outer East Leeds policing team tweeted: “Just been waved down and alerted to a dog left in a car. Owner had gone shopping in the adjacent Supermarket.”

“Tannoy Announcement made, owner returned. In the space of less than 10mins the dog was starting to pant / overheat. Just don’t do it. #DogsDieInHotCars,” he added.

Illustration - Shutterstock | The Adaptive

In spite of campaigns educating people to the danger of leaving their pets in hot, enclosed spaces, in summer 2018, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals RSPCA) of the UK still received 8,290 calls relating to animals and heat exhaustion. Ninety percent of the 8,290 calls were about dogs in hot cars, as per Metro.

According to PETA, parked cars on a hot day are deathtraps for dogs. Its website states: “On a 78-degree day, the temperature inside a parked car can soar to 100 degrees in just minutes, and on a 90-degree day, the interior temperature can reach as high as 109 degrees in less than 10 minutes.”

The canines can suffer brain damage or die from heatstroke in just 15 minutes.

RSPCA dog welfare expert Lisa Hens told Express: “Opening a window, parking in the shade or leaving a bowl of water for your dog isn’t enough and still leaves dogs in serious danger of suffering from heatstroke. And popping into the shop for five minutes is long enough for your dog to be affected.”

“Dogs are covered in fur and do not sweat in the same way as humans do. Unlike humans, dogs pant to help keep themselves cool. The effectiveness of panting is reduced at high temperatures and humidities,” Hens explained. She urged if the weather is warm, it’s advisable “to leave them at home where they can access cool, shady parts of the house and lots of water.”

Please keep your dogs safe and healthy during the hot summer months. Remember, leaving your dog in a car on scorching days is a definite no-no even if you’re just running errands.