Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Drivers warned of action over dogs in baking car parks
Van man arrested after pet found ‘in distress’
Dog owners are being warned the police will be called if a pet is found distressed in a hot car at Whitefriars, Canterbury.
Posters around the multi-storey car park in Watling Street highlighted the issue as temperatures soared into the high 20s.
There have been several reports of dogs being left in sweltering cars and one extreme case where police had to smash a window to get the distressed animal out.
In 22 degrees of heat, a car can reach 47 degrees within an hour.
Whitefriars spokesman Martyn Barr says if staff have serious concerns they will take action.
“There have been occurrences where dogs have been left in hot, sealed vehicles, with no water, in the car park,” he said.
“Security were notified and the police attended and sought advice from the RSPCA on each occasion.
“On the last visit, the police officer actually smashed a car window to free the dog, trapped inside for over an hour.”
He says the Whitefriars team advises people against leaving their dogs in vehicles and, if alerted to one, will monitor the animal until the owner returns.
He added: “We have now installed posters around the car park highlighting the issue and if staff have serious concerns for an animal’s health, we will call the police.”
Several incidents of dogs being left in vehicles in Morrisons car park have also been posted on social media, with calls for posters to be put up at the Ten Perch Road store.
Morrisons says its trolley team regularly patrol the car park and if dogs are seen in cars in hot weather they alert in-store staff.
A dog owner from Littlebourne was arrested in Chichester on Tuesday and his pet seized after the animal was reported to have been left in a sweltering van for more than four hours.
Officers said the young Alsatian male crossbreed was found inside “in a major state of distress”.
The owner, a 39-year-old man, was arrested on suspicion of causing unnecessary suffering to the animal.
Police say the community safety unit in Canterbury is not aware of any particular issues in this area.
Spokesman Steve Knight added: “If officers were required to smash a car window then they would obviously give strong words of advice to the owner and may also refer the incident to the RSPCA.”