Warning to owners as dog dies of heatstroke in Chichester car park
A stark reminder has been sent out to pet owners after a dog died of heatstroke when it was left inside a car in a Chichester car park.
Vet Eleanor van Tonder, known as Tiekie, and her team at Pet Doctors Veterinary Clinic, battled to save the seven-year-old wirecoat fox terrier, but to no avail.
It had a major heatstroke and as a result suffered brain damage before it died on June 25.
"We tried to cool the dog down," said Tiekie.
"Even when you leave the windows open and think it looks pretty safe, a car in the heat is just like being in an oven. A huge warning should be put out.
"You wouldn't leave a baby in the car in the heat, would you?
"Anyone who leaves their pets in their car should have them
confiscated, end of story."
The owner of the fox terrier, from Wales, was passing through Chichester and parked in the car park at Westgate Leisure Centre.
The woman, aged in her 80s, got out and went into Chichester, but got lost and could not find her way back, returning two hours later.
Two nurses from Pet Doctors, based in Parklands Road, were sent out to resuscitate the dog, named Bella.
Penny Smith, who works at Chichester College, said: "My husband saw the owner with her dog and it had collapsed.
"Two girls from the fashion department at the college came over to give the dog some water and staff at Westgate Leisure Centre were fantastic in looking after the dog."
Dogs sweat only through their paws and pant to cool themselves down.
Even in the shade a dog with long fur can find it very difficult
to cool down quickly.
Under the Animal Welfare Act it is illegal to cause an animal
unnecessary suffering. Penalties for doing so are a fine of up
to 20,000 and/or a six-month custodial sentence.
A spokesman for the RSPCA said: "We do prosecute when people leave dogs in their car.
"Because the owner is elderly and got herself lost it is unlikely we will press charges.
"Almost in all other circumstances we would prosecute."
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Weather for Crawley
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: East
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