Police Scotland were forced to smash vehicle windows at the Centre Livingston carpark on Friday afternoon to rescue a young, distressed spaniel from a boiling car.
Authorities were called to the scene after a shopping trip with friends turned into a full-blown rescue operation for an anonymous samaritan who noticed the dog was trapped in a car without air or water.
Going by the parking ticket, the dog had been trapped in the hot vehicle for 90 minutes by the time anyone noticed.
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“I’m staggered to believe anyone could be so irresponsible as to leave a dog in a car on a sunny day, windows closed, no water,” the woman said.
“Being a dog owner myself, I was very worried about the dog, and it was obviously hot and distressed.”
The woman said the sun was shining on Friday, and temperatures were reported around 23 degrees. An online calculator estimates that temperatures inside the car after one hour would be approximately 47 degrees.
The woman said she and her friends put off afternoon appointments to save the dog, and they contacted Police Scotland on 101.
“Police Scotland were absolutely fantastic. They tried to contact the registered vehicle owners, and they checked the car. They eventually smashed the side window to get the dog out of the car,” the samaritan said.
“If the owners were present, they didn’t make themselves known. There was quite the crowd gathered around offering to help and concerned about the dog.”
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Before calling the Police, the woman said she asked nearby stores to make announcements over the PA advising the dog’s owner to come forward, but the owners showed themselves.
“I’m telling this story to promote education and awareness,” the woman said.
“It is not safe to leave your dog in the car. Even if you crack the windows, it’s not enough air. Leave your dogs at home if you plan to leave them in the car.”
The samaritan said she called 101 for an update the next day, and she was told vets had initially been concerned about the young dog, but it was later given the all clear. The owners had also been contacted.
The PDSA pet charity said it is not illegal as such to leave a dog in a hot car, but owners are legally responsible for their pet’s health and welfare.
“If a dog became ill or sadly died due to being left in a hot car, owners could be charged with the offence of animal cruelty under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. This could lead to a prison sentence and/or a fine,” the charity advised on its website.
PDSA advised anyone who notices a pet in a hot vehicle to assess the situation carefully. If the animal shows signs of distress, the charity advises contacting authorities for assistance.
“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, it could be classed as criminal damage and you may need to be prepared to defend your actions in court,” PDSA advice states.
Dogs in heat distress should always be seen by a vet, and general advice is to never leave pets unattended in vehicles.
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