We currently live in a time of political correctness, where we're not too sure of what we can and can't say.
However, I'm sure it's perfectly fine, as well as expected to call someone who leaves a dog in a car on a hot day, with the windows up, "a shitehawk."
The RSPCA says that when it is 22 degrees outside, which still isn't particularly hot, it can reach an unbearable 47 degrees in a car within an hour.
Advert
It's incredible that it isn't fully illegal to do so, as it's so uncomfortable for dogs, something Nevada has cracked down on, passing a bill which leaves the offender subject to a fine.
"Senate Bill 409 passed in the last legislative session raised the penalty for leaving a pet in a hot, locked car to the same level as leaving a child in the car," says Cathy Brooks, owner of The Hydrant Club.
Credit: Creative Commons
Advert
Sadly, this isn't going to effect the rest of the world, who'll still leave their pets in cars, gasping for air in the heat.
A pooch was spotted suffering in its owner's car in a multi-story car park in Newmarket, Suffolk, suffering a policeman to smash open a window.
Shortly after the officer had released the pup from the sweat box, the owner returned, claiming he'd been away longer than he'd anticipated. The ticket on his car showed that he'd been away over an hour.
"We received a call from a member of the public saying there was a vehicle parked at the ground floor level of the multi-storey car park with a small dog on its own inside," a spokesperson for Suffolk police said.
Advert
"All the windows were completely shut, the vehicle was locked and there was no water inside for it, so temperatures were getting close to 30 degrees.
Credit: SWNS
"The dog had been in the car for some time and its appearance caused members of the public to be distressed, so we did a number of checks to see if we could find the owner.
Advert
"And we smashed a single window to get the dog out of the car."
The dog was reportedly struggling to breathe once out of the car and had trouble walking - something the owner put down to it having Alzheimer's.
The incident occurred at the Guineas Shopping Centre at 2.45pm on Wednesday, the hottest day of last week's heat wave that hit the UK.
Credit: SWNS
Advert
Dog owners have been warned recently to be wary of walking their pets on hot pavements as it can burn their paws, as well as leaving them out in the sun and in cars.
So, what should you do if you spot an animal stuck in a car on a hot day? The RSPCA gives the following advice on its website:
1. Establish the animal's health/condition. If they're displaying any signs of heatstroke, dial 999 Immediately.
2. If the situation becomes critical for the dog and the police are too far away/unable to attend, many people's instinct will be to break into the car to free the dog. If you decide to do this, please be aware that without proper justification, this could be classed as criminal damage and, potentially, you may need to defend your actions in court.
3. Make sure you tell the police what you intend to do, why, and take images/footage of the dog and the names and numbers of witnesses to the incident. The law states that you have a lawful excuse to commit damage if you believe that the owner of the property that you damage would consent to the damage if they knew the circumstances (section 5(2)(a) Criminal Damage Act 1971).
If the dog you spot does not seem to be exhibiting signs of heatstroke, the charity advises that you try to establish how long it has been in the car and stay with it to monitor his or her condition for any changes in breathing.