Staffordshire Police are investigating a confrontation at a B&M store in Lichfield after a woman allegedly removed a dog from a hot van and was threatened with a punch to the face by the animal's owner.
Incident at Imperial Retail Park
The altercation occurred on Wednesday, June 24, during a red alert heatwave, at the B&M store on Imperial Retail Park near Eastern Avenue. Temperatures in the area had soared above 30°C, with the woman claiming the dog was left inside a van in 34°C heat.
Footage from the scene shows the woman, in her 30s, confronting a man believed to be the dog's owner. She stated she had "liberated" the dog after finding it in the hot vehicle. The man responded aggressively, shouting, "Give me my dog or I'll lose my s***. Give me my dog you weirdo before I punch you in the face."
Police Investigation
Staffordshire Police confirmed they were called to the store around 1pm. A force spokesperson said: "We're appealing for information after a woman was verbally abused after taking action to help a dog allegedly left in a hot car. The victim, a woman in her 30s, had spotted the dog in a car on the car park of Imperial Retail Park, Lichfield, at around lunchtime on Wednesday. She took the dog into a nearby store which was air-conditioned, before alerting staff. The owner of the dog then reportedly became aggressive and abusive."
Officers spoke to the victim and staff, and reviewed CCTV footage. The woman was left shaken but unhurt. Police are keen to speak to witnesses or anyone with dash-cam footage.
RSPCA Warning on Hot Cars
The RSPCA advises that even with windows open or in shade, a car's interior can reach up to 47°C within an hour when the outside temperature is just 22°C. Leaving dogs in hot cars can be fatal.
Anyone with information is urged to call Staffordshire Police on 101, quoting log number 455 of June 24.
