RSPCA to investigate dogs that were left in sweltering hot car in Corby

The RSPCA has appealed for anyone who knows the identity of a man who allegedly left two German Shepherds in a hot car in Corby to get in touch with them.

The charity is hoping to investigate the incident that happened last Friday (June 26) but needs help from local people who may know who the owner is.

Frantic shoppers phoned police after seeing the pair of dogs left inside a Land Rover in heat of up to 29 degrees in the Asda car park at Phoenix Parkway in Corby.

The incident happened about 1pm. Police were phoned but the owner was spoken to and then left the scene.

Now the RSPCA wants to launch its own investigation into the incident.

The vehicle was a dark blue Land Rover with the registration number BX02 SXK.

An RSPCA spokesperson said: “We are aware of this incident and would ask anyone who knows the owner of the dogs to call 0300 123 8018.

“The RSPCA continually urges owners to never leave a dog in a hot car, vehicle, caravan, conservatory or outbuilding in the warm weather.

“Dogs - and other pets - can overheat and die if left in a hot environment, such as a car as temperatures can rapidly rise in matter of minutes with lethal consequences for pets.”

Each summer, the RSPCA is part of a coalition of organisations and charities to run the Dogs Die in Hot Cars campaign, urging owners never to leave their pets in hot environments such as cars, caravans or conservatories and advising members of the public what to do if they spot a dog in a car on a warm day.

Dr Sam Gaines, dog welfare expert at the RSPCA said: “Our message is very clear, please do not put your pet at risk by leaving them in a vehicle on a warm day. Please leave them at home with access to a cool shady area and plenty of water.

“It’s a relief for many people that lockdown is set to ease and with most dogs being an important part of the family, it’s going to be tempting to want to take them on a day out by car, or a trip to the shops etc. But temperatures can rise very quickly inside a vehicle, even the windows down and a bowl of water - this is not enough to keep a dog comfortable and cool. It’s never worth the risk.

“Sadly, we’ve seen a number of tragic cases over the years where dogs have died after being left inside a hot vehicle, and in most cases their owners were devastated and truly thought their dogs would be okay.”

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.

The dog should be moved to a shaded/cool area and doused with cool water. The dog should be allowed to drink small amounts of cool water