North Yorkshire Police has said it will refer the owner of four dogs who were left inside a baking hot car to the RSCPA.
The Stray Ferret reported yesterday that bystanders at Oak Beck Retail Park off Skipton Road had to smash a Land Rover Discovery window to free the dogs.
They had been trapped for over half an hour without even a window open.
Fortunately, there were vets working at the nearby Vets4Pets, which is inside Pets At Home.
The Labradors were given treatment and after a health check that showed they were OK, were handed back to the owner.
But that might not be the end of the matter. A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson has confirmed that an officer spoke to the male owner and will refer the incident to the RSPCA.
A spokesperson said:
“Members of the public witnessed the dogs being left unattended with the windows up and seemingly without air conditioning for around 30 minutes.
“One of them smashed a window on the vehicle and the dogs were taken into the care of a vet.
“Police spoke to the owner of the dogs and are due to report him to the RSPCA.”
Read more:
- Four dogs rescued from hot car in Harrogate given back to owner
- Bystanders smash car window to rescue four dogs in Harrogate
What powers does the RSPCA have?
It is not illegal to leave a dog in a hot car but owners are legally responsible for their pets’ health and welfare.
If a dog becomes ill or dies in a hot car, the owner could be charged with animal cruelty under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. This could lead to a prison sentence and/or a fine.
The charity has no legal enforcement powers or authority in its own right, so all prosecutions are brought via independent solicitors acting for the RSPCA.
The charity runs a regular ‘dogs die in hot cars’ campaign that warns motorists of the dangers of leaving a dog inside a car during hot weather.
A spokesperson said:
“Despite our very clear message each year, some people still continue to leave their dogs in hot cars thinking there is no risk, and many more take their dogs out for walks in hot temperatures when pavements are red hot.
“It’s so important to remember not to leave any animal in any vehicle or caravan, or in a conservatory or outbuilding, where temperatures can quickly rise, even when it doesn’t feel that warm outside.”
Bystanders in Harrogate had to smash a car window today to free four dogs who were trapped for 40 minutes without even a window open.
Ruth Watson and her partner had been shopping at Aldi on Oak Beck Road at around midday when they spotted the labradors who were visibly distressed and barking in the sweltering heat, which has topped 38 degrees today.
Dogs in hot cars can suffer from potentially fatal heat stroke in as little as 15 minutes.
Ms Watson told the Stray Ferret she went inside B&Q, which is next door to the supermarket, to ask staff to broadcast a message on the tannoy to try and find the owner but there was no response.
A group had congregated around the car with people bringing buckets of water ready to cool them down.
She said:
“It is upsetting. I got a little upset but I was more angry than anything else.”
Quick thinking staff at the DIY store used a hammer to smash open the window and set the animals free.
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Fortunately, there were vets working at the nearby Pets At Home who were able to give the animals immediate medical attention. However, one of the dogs had to be carried away and Ms Watson said it looked in poor health.
The owner eventually came out to the car but Ms Watson said “He seemed oblivious like he’d done nothing wrong.”
She added:
“He’s not a responsible dog owner. Questions should be asked if he’s competent enough to have animals”.
Abi Linden was also shopping at the time and spotted the incident take place. She said what she saw was “appalling” and called on the police to take action against the owner.
She said:
“The sheer stupidity in leaving the dogs in this heat without even windows open. It made me so angry”.
A North Yorkshire Police officer was believed to have attended the scene. The Stray Ferret has asked NYP for comment on the incident. We have also asked the vets for an update on the dogs.