Dog safe and well after van ‘rescue’
Members of the public stepped in on Monday afternoon to release a dog from a locked van as it appeared to be ‘distressed’ in the hot weather.
As temperatures hit 24°C across the area, the female Staffordshire bull terrier was spotted inside a van at Ellenabeich on the Isle of Seil.
Eyewitnesses told The Oban Times a pair of skylight windows had been left open an estimated two centimetres, with water left behind for the pet too.
But the heat was described as ‘intense’, with the dog believed to be ‘crying and distressed’.
It attracted a crowd of concerned people including a Royal Mail worker and staff from nearby Seafari Adventures.
A fire crew from Oban attended the scene as did police officers.
Three local residents are said to have managed to dismantle a skylight window on the van without causing any damage to set the dog free.
The eyewitness said: ‘The first priority was a call of nature, then she graciously accepted an ice cream - kindly donated by Seafari staff from the local shop.
Police Scotland confirmed it had received reports of concerns for the animal. A spokesperson said the dog was ‘found to be fine and in a well ventilated van’ and that no further action was required.
The SSPCA advises people not to ‘risk’ leaving a dog in a vehicle on hot days as they can develop heatstroke or go into cardiac risk.
It said: ‘It only takes a dog a few minutes to overheat in a car. In direct sunlight, temperatures rise quickly inside.’