Does the R.S.P.C.A prosecute all owners leaving dogs in cars now?

Nicholas

New member
I came from work of some 80 miles with the air conditioning on for the whole journey and was cold enough to have a jacket on when I popped into the local supermarket. I came out after about 15 minutes to discover a policeman waiting to break the windows although the car was open! It had warmed up slightly but still very comfortable. The policeman let me off with a caution but would not even enter the car to see. I would just like to know if I committed an offence
 
If a member of the public was concerned, the police have the right to force entry.
Personally I wouldn't leave a dog in the car, in a confined space with the sun on them, it can feel very uncomfortable.
 
You haven't committed an offence pur'say but it is very irresponsible as a dog owner.

Even if its a cold day you should open the windows of your car to allow fresh air to enter the car for a dog, remember that dogs don't have sweat glands, so they literally boil to death.

Like you have said, you have had the air-con on all day, but the police officer doesn't know that, all he knows and can see is a dog in a car with the windows up, regardless of the fact that the car is open. If I was a policemen, I wouldn't open the door for the risk of myself and the public, the dog could get out and bite someone or run into the road to cause an accident, then the policemen would get the blame. By smashing the window, he could stop the dog getting out by stepping in front of the window.

The police do have the right to smash the window of the car should they see a dogs life in danger. The RSPCA do not however, they have to get the police first.
 
It's like leaving a child in a car, if something unexpected happens and you get caught up somewhere and the heat gets to that dog it could kill it, dogs don't know how to open car doors The policeman also didn't know how long the dog had already been inside the car, I'm sure he/she was just concerned for it's safety, it's better to just tie it's leash to something or even try leaving a note in the window. But yes, it's considered animal abuse if your dog is left inside the car for too long and again, the police officer did not know how long your dog had been inside so they acted correctly, if you ever do it again, leave the window open a little for enough air and leave a note stating the exact time you left the dog.
 
the rspca are the worst offenders, i will give you some facts that may shock you

1, i phoned them about an injured cat, it took them 4 days to come to collect it, i had to kill the cat myself to stop the suffering, it had been run over and the back end was crushed.
2 a lady next to me, had a st bernard dog, she took it to the rspca in hanwell west london, they gave the dog steroids, she then had to take the dog to their putney hospital, where they told her that the dog had to be put down due to abnormal stomach swelling, later she found out that you cant give st Bernard's steroids as it messes up their gut,
3 a family in greenford had three dogs, a inspector from rspca came and said dogs was under weight, the dogs was taken and owners was taken to court, while in rspca care, 1 dog got so ill it had to be put down, all the fault of rspca, other dogs was kept till court hearing, when the judge heard that when dogs was taken they weighed 21 lb each and they now weighed 16lb the judge was furious, he gave the owners the dogs back and ordered the rspca to pay compensation
 
Well, if the dog had been injured in the car then yes the RSPCA would be interested. If it was a hot day, the Policeman would see a risk and had no way of knowing that you would be back soon.
 
Probably not, but you might have been coming close to an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 which states:

"A person commits an offence if—
(a) an act of his, or a failure of his to act, causes an animal to suffer,
(b) he knew, or ought reasonably to have known, that the act, or failure to act, would have that effect or be likely to do so,
(c) the animal is a protected animal, and
(d) the suffering is unnecessary."

Clearly the RSPCA weren't involved. In any case, they invariably call the police to break into a car if need be. The police officer would also inform his supervisor of the circumstances before doing this.
 
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