Dogs ‘appearing distressed’ inside parked cars have sparked emergency calls in Wiltshire.
In two separate incidents this morning (Thursday, 21 July), fire crews responded to reports of a dog locked in vehicles in Devizes and Chippenham.
Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed it sent a crew from Chippenham to two the emergency calls within just three hours of one another.
Shortly before 9am, a call was made reporting a distressed dog in a car in Brickley Lane, Devizes.
Firefighters were mobilised to the scene but found that the dog has been released moments before their arrival.
At 11.45pm, the crew responded to a report of a distressed dog in a car parked on Rowden Hill, Chippenham.
No action was required by the fire service and the incident was marked as a false alarm with good intent.
The RSPCA says anyone concerned about a dog in a car on a warm day should assess its condition and call 999 if they are showing signs of heatstroke.
“If the dog’s condition is critical, and the police haven’t arrived yet, your instinct will be to break into the car to free them”, a spokesperson said.
Continuing: “But please be aware that this could be classed as criminal damage.
“You may need to defend your actions in court, so please be sure you’re doing the right thing. Legally, you can commit damage if you believe the car owner would consent to it if they knew the dog was in danger.
“If you’re sure you need to free the dog, tell the police what you intend to do and why. Take photos or videos of the dog. Are there any other witnesses? Take their names and telephone numbers.
“Don’t be afraid to dial 999. If it’s an emergency, we may not be able to get to you – and the dog – quickly enough. And as we have no powers of entry, we’d need to ask the police to help us rescue the dog. Don’t worry – the police will soon let us know if the dog needs our help.”
For more advice on what to do if you spot a dog in a hot car, visit the RSPCA website.
