RSPCA: ‘Stupid mistake’ led to death of dog left in van on a hot day
Brave 13-year-old saved the life of the other dog
A man has been handed a suspended prison sentence after he left his two dogs shut in a van on a summer day causing one to die.
A group of children heard a commotion coming from a van and discovered the two Victorian Bulldogs inside struggling for breath.
The brave youngsters managed to get into the van and saved one of the dogs but sadly the other had already died due to the sweltering temperatures.
Inspector Patrick Bailey said: “What those dogs went through was horrendous. Thank goodness for the quick thinking of the children.
“Sadly Panda (below) died while they were trying to save her but they managed to get Hades out. If it wasn’t for them he could well have died too.”
Panda.JPG
Sean Lewis (31) of Beecham Road, Reading, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to his two pets contrary to section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act.
He was sentenced to eight weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, ordered to carry out 180 hours community work, banned from keeping dogs for a year and ordered to pay £250 costs at Reading Magistrates’ Court on December 10.
Lewis said in interview that he had driven his pets to Poole, where he was working, for a run on the beach as a treat on August 27 this year (2013) and left them in his van.
A group of children, playing in Kingston Road, raised the alarm when they spotted the two dogs, Panda and Hades, collapsed in the back of the van covered in vomit and diarrhoea.
Hades.JPG
Tragically Panda, a black and white Victorian bulldog, died at the scene. A post mortem examination showed she died from asphyxiation due to the swelling of tissues at the back of the throat caused by excessive panting as she tried to cool down.
Hades (right), a tan and white Victorian Bulldog, was rescued by the children. The 18-month-old was rushed to the vet and survived.
Lewis said in interview he parked his van under the shade of the tree and left water with the dogs but didn’t realise how hot it would get inside the vehicle and had made ‘stupid mistake’.
Every year the RSPCA receives around 6,000 calls from members of the public concerned about animals left in hot vehicles, often in places such as supermarket car parks and at public events.
Dogs can die from heatstroke in as little as 20 minutes. In warm, sunny weather cars become as hot as ovens even if it’s cloudy.
When it is just 22°C (72°F) outside, the temperature inside a car can soar to 47°C (117°F) or even higher. For this reason, the RSPCA advises that animals are never left inside cars.
If a dog left in a car is panting for breath, it may be starting to suffer from heatstroke. This could kill the dog very quickly.
Even if you park your car in the shade, the position of the sun will change.
Young and elderly animals are more susceptible to heat.
Leaving the car windows open or putting a bowl of water inside does not help.
Temperatures in air conditioned cars can reach the same as the outside air temperature within just five minutes of air conditioning being turned off.
If you are worried about an animal left in a car called the police on 999 or the RSPCA 24-cruelty line on 0300 1234 999.
We can only help dogs like Panda and Hades with your support. Text HERO to 60155. Text cost £3 + one standard network rate message.
Ends
Hades is now in the RSPCA care and will be up for rehoming soon.
The oldest of the children was just 13-years-old.
-01.png){kind=spacer}