Two women leave dog in a car on the hottest day of the year

Animal-lover is called a ‘d***head’ as she confronts two young women who left dog for ’20 minutes’ in car with open window in Matalan car park on hottest day of year

Elaine Wollacott saw the puppy in a car on Thursday in an Exeter retail park
She said she believed the dog was in distress while the owner was shopping
Ms Woollacott said it was the second dog in distress she witnessed this week
She said: ‘I am so angry that someone would treat their dog like this’
Do you know the driver and her friend? Email darren.boyle@mailonline.co.uk

By Darren Boyle for MailOnline

Published: 13:39 BST, 27 July 2018 | Updated: 14:45 BST, 27 July 2018

An animal-lover who gave water to a dog left in a car in a Matalan car park for ‘up to 20 minutes’ on the hottest day of the year was called a ‘d***head’ when the driver returned.

Two women, who have not been identified, left a dog inside their Vauxhall Astra at the Stone Lane Retail park in Exeter on Thursday evening.

Elaine Woolacott noticed the dog and began feeding it water through an open window and waited for the owners to return.

This dog was left trapped in a car in Exeter on the hottest day of the year while its owner went to the shops. A video of the dog has amassed more than 200,000 views online

Elaine Woolacott confronted the driver of the Vauxhall Astra when she returned to the car, right, following her trip to the shops

The driver made off in their car with the dog following the incident on Thursday evening

Ms Woolacott posted the video on her Facebook page which has amassed more than 200,000 views.

Owners could face criminal prosecution for leaving their pets in cars on hot days

Despite repeated RSPCA warnings and threat of prosecution, owners are still leaving dogs to ‘cook alive’ in hot cars.

A car can become as hot as an oven very quickly, even when it doesn’t feel that warm. When it’s 22C, in a car it can reach 47C within the hour – causing a dog to suffer heatstroke which can lead to death in just 10 minutes.

If a dog dies in a hot car its owner can face six months in prison and an unlimited fine under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

If you see a dog in distress you can call the RSPCA 24-hour cruelty line for advice on 0300 1234 999 but if you feel the dog is in serious danger dial 999.

If you decide to break a window to release the dog you could be charged with criminal damage. You will have to explain you acted with proper justification in court.

Make sure you tell 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.

Earlier this week, Ms Woolacott reported another pet owner to the RSPCA after seeing their dog suffering in a car at the same car park.

Speaking to Devon Live, Ms Woolacott said: ‘After what happened on Tuesday I didn’t want to return to the retail park but I needed to pick something up. As soon as I got out of my car I saw the puppy. It was such a hot day again and the dog looked in real discomfort.

‘There were quite a few people stood around with me saying how bad it was and eventually they put an announcement out on the speakers in Matalan. It was absolutely burning and the dog hadn’t been given any water.

‘The driver of the car said that they had only been in the shop for one minute but I had been filming for at least eight minutes by then. I’m so angry that someone would treat their dog like this.’

Amy Ockelford of the RSPCA told MailOnline: ‘It’s not actually illegal to leave a dog in the car.

‘It’s illegal to cause your dog suffering or to leave them in an environment which is unsafe

‘If you leave your dog in the car in November – there’s nothing wrong with that.

‘But in the summer, we tell people it’s not good enough to park their car in the shade or leave the windows down because temperatures can rise.

‘We would look into this as an animal welfare offense, caused by failing to provide a dog with a safe environment.

‘Leaving windows down or leaving water out makes no difference as far as we are concerned.

‘You shouldn’t leave dogs in cars in this kind of weather. At all.’

How to keep your pets cool in the heatwave: RSPCA tips for making sure your beloved animals stay safe

The number one rule in the summer is never ever leave your dog in the car, even if you have put the window down. Never do it

Never leave animals in hot cars, conservatories, outbuildings or caravans, even if it’s just for a short while.

Temperatures can quickly rise to 47°C (117°F) which can result in death.

Use pet safe sun cream on exposed parts of your pets skin, such as the tips of their ears and nose, to avoid sunburn. If you’re unsure on the right product, please ask your vet.

Ensure pets always have access to shade and fresh drinking water to help keep them cool.

Check every day for flystrike.

Putting ice cubes into your dog or cat’s water bowl or making some tasty ice cube treats is another fantastic idea.

Damp towels for your pet to lie on or an ice pack wrapped in a towel could provide a welcome relief from the heat.

Dogs may also appreciate a paddling pool to splash around in. Take a look at one of the dogs in our care enjoy a dip in the water.

Source: RSPCA