“IT only takes six minutes for a dog to die” – That’s the stark warning after police were called to dog in a car.
Officers from Weymouth Safer Neighbourhood Team were alerted to a terrier in a car near the Westham Bridge area of Weymouth, by a concerned taxi driver on Thursday afternoon. There was no water in the car and the windows were sealed tight shut, officers said.
The parking ticket on the car was for two hours. Dog warden Ian Lewis was also called and stayed with the dog, keeping an eye on it and ready to smash the window and release the Jack Russell if it started to show signs of deterioration.
The owners returned to the car in 45 minutes.
A spokesman for Weymouth SNT said: “The terrier was left with no water and the windows sealed shut. The parking ticket was for two hours. ?
“Weymouth? and Portland’s dog warden Ian Lewis stayed with the hot dog, checking its welfare regularly. If needed the window would have been put in. The dog warden also dealt with the owner on return to the car.
“We would like to thank Ian and members of the public for their help in this matter.
“Please do not leave your dog in a car without proper attention or better still, not at all, during the summer months.”
Officers said the dog was ok.
Dog warden Ian Lewis said the dog’s owners bought the car parking ticket at 1.45pm, he arrived on the scene at 2pm and the people had returned back by 2.30pm.
He said that they would be sent a warning letter by both himself and the RSPCA, who have been made aware of the incident.
He said: “They were warned about leaving a dog in a car without any windows open, which is an offence, it’s an abandonment.”
He added: “They have had a warning letter from me and from the RSPCA. It was passed on to the local inspector.”
Mr Lewis urged dog owners to use ‘common sense’ and warned of the dangers of leaving dogs in cars. He said that if a car was in direct sunlight the heat inside could be up to triple that outside.
He added: "It can take as little as six minutes for a dog to die of exhaustion.
“If we come across a dog in distress with no windows open, we will put the windows through.”
This is the second time this week Mr Lewis said he had been called out to a dog in a car.
CONTACT ME:
t: 01305 830981
e: catherine.bolado@dorsetecho.co.uk
twitter: @DorsetEchoCB
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel