Dog ‘minutes from death’ in hot car will be returned to her owners
TWIN brothers whose dog was ‘fifteen minutes from death’ after it was left in a car in Southport on the hottest day of the year have been told they can have their dog back.
Kenneth and Malcolm LentonSmith, of, Duxberry Street, Earby, were each given 40 hours community service at South Sefton Magistrates Court last Wednesday afternoon, after pleading guilty to animal cruelty the week before.
The brothers, both aged 67, were holidaying in Southport on July 19, when their dog had to be rescued.
Police found the greyhound in a parked car at the rear of the Bold Hotel on Lord Street at around 7.55pm. A vet from Rufford Vet Group was called and said Tara was suffering from heat exhaustion, on a day when temperatures exceeded the 30°C mark.
Tara was put on a drip immediately but the vet was unsure if she would survive.
The court heard the LentonSmith brothers were both heartbroken after what happened to their dog; and that the men take frequent holidays, always taking Tara with them because she doesn’t like to stay in kennels. They usually leave her to sleep in the car, making sure she has plenty of water, the window is open and she is checked on regularly.
The brothers said they had ensured the car was parked in the shade on July 19 as it was particularly hot – and performed hourly checks on the dog, but had fallen asleep at around 5pm after having something to eat.
Magistrates said because the men had no previous convictions, had looked after the dog for more than a decade, and that this was an isolated incident, they could have the dog returned to them.
Hearing this, Malcolm LentonSmith applauded while Kenneth Lenton-Smith thanked the court.
However, Alison Clarkson, prosecuting, quickly addressed the men, saying: “Before you celebrate too much, I must warn you there is every chance the RSPCA will appeal this decision.
“I don’t want you to think you’ll be getting Tara back tonight.”
The Lenton-Smith brothers will also have to pay veterinary bills of £354.54 as well as court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £85.
The RSPCA were given 21 days to appeal the case.