Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/officers-smash-window-to-save-dog-in-hot-car/

A dog in Nottinghamshire has police officers to thank for his life after he was left trapped in a hot car during a heat wave.

The Nottinghamshire Police shared about the incident on Facebook to remind people to never leave a dog in a hot car – even for a short amount of time.

In the post, they explained that temperatures were nearing 90 degrees F throughout the week and leaving a pet in a car in such conditions can be life-threatening.

They wrote, “dog owners are once again being reminded not to leave their dogs in hot cars – even with the windows slightly open as was the case in this incident.”

Officers responded to the incident after being alerted to a small black Shih Tzu “barking and panting inside a locked car.” They added that the windows were left cracked open, but it wasn’t enough to keep the dog from overheating.

Officers arrived “just in time to save his life.” They immediately smashed the car’s window and freed the pup, who had collapsed from heat exhaustion in the vehicle.

In a press release, PC Jamie Martin said that if no one had alerted them to the dog, it’s unlikely he would’ve survived.

He went on to say:

“Many people think it’s OK to leave their dog in the car on a warm day providing the windows are open. But this incident shows that just simply isn’t the case. Put simply, you should never leave your dog alone in a car on a warm day.

Whilst it is not illegal to leave a dog in a hot car, 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 offense of animal cruelty under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.”

Thankfully, the pup ended up being fine and the owner of the dog was located. Police have handed the case over to the RSPCA and it’s unclear if the dog will be reunited with its negligent owner or if he will be placed in a temporary shelter situation until a more fitting home is found.

You can watch the video below to see the rescue in action:

Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog