Dog ‘left alone’ in car prompts 999 response

Police rushed to an incident after reports a dog was "left alone" in a car with the windows only "slightly open" yesterday (July 20).

Concerned members of the public raised the alarm to Avon and Somerset Police when temperatures reached around 22C. Officers rushed to Gloucester Road, Bristol, at around 3.40pm yesterday (July 20) after receiving calls from the public.

Police confirmed it sent an officer to the scene. A post on traffic monitoring website Inrix added that crews from Avon Fire and Rescue were also on the road. The incident led to the road being partially blocked.

A police spokesperson said the vehicle drove off just as the officer dispatched to the road reached the scene.

A police spokesman said: "We were called by a member of the public concerned for a dog left alone in a vehicle in Gloucester Road at about 3.40pm yesterday. The informant said one of the windows was slightly open.

"An officer was dispatched to attend and saw the vehicle being driven away as they reached the area at about 4.15pm. No other calls were received relating to this."

Dogs can die if left in cars when the weather becomes hot. The RSPCA said: "Many people think it's ok to leave their dog in the car if they're parked in the shade or the windows are open.

"But a car can become as hot as an oven, even when the weather doesn't feel that warm. When it's 22 degrees Celsius outside, the car could reach an unbearable 47 degrees within an hour. It's very dangerous and will cause your dog suffering and harm."

References

1. ^{^} Body of a man found in woods on Somerset (www.somersetlive.co.uk)