If you see a dog locked in a hot car, the RSPCA says to first assess the animal's condition and look for signs of heatstroke. These include confusion, excessive drooling, dehydration, collapsing, muscle spasms, fast or noisy breathing, panting, red gums and tongue, seizures, vomiting and diarrhoea, and weakness.
With warm weather forecast across much of the UK, vehicles can become as hot as an oven, and the RSPCA has warned this can be fatal for dogs.
Call 999 immediately
If you believe the dog has heatstroke, call 999 straight away. The RSPCA adds: "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. 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 decide to break in
If you are certain you need to release the dog, inform the police what you plan to do and why. Take photos or videos of the dog in the car, and collect the names and phone numbers of any witnesses.
The RSPCA's powers
The RSPCA says: "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."
Prevention
During hot weather, the RSPCA advises leaving dogs at home where possible to avoid the risk of overheating in vehicles.
