Dog owner fined after two dogs left inside pick-up in Cromer on UK's hottest ever day
Both dogs were unsteady on their feet and were panting heavily when they were rescued
Last updated 23rd Dec 2022
A dog owner who left his two Labradors in the back of a pick-up in Cromer on one of the hottest days ever recorded in the UK has been ordered to pay a fine.
Kimba and Kenza were panting heavily and unsteady on their feet after they were rescued from the parked vehicle - which had no air conditioning - on July 19.
Members of the public had intervened to get them out of the Mitsubishi L200 truck parked up on Hamilton Road.
They were cooled down at a nearby shop with fans and wet towels.
66 year old owner Stephen Owen, of High Street in Blakeney, left the vehicle at 12:58pm, returning at 1:12pm.
The RSPCA were made aware of the incident after footage circulated on social media.
Owen admitted to one offence contrary to the Animal Welfare Act 2006 when he appeared before Norwich Magistrates Court on Wednesday (December 21)
Giving evidence in court, RSPCA officer Dean Astillberry said: “Mr Owen showed me the rear of the Mitsubishi truck he had used that day."
"The rear of the truck is entirely separated from the cab area and therefore received no air conditioned cooling.
"It was constructed of a fibre glass type material. He indicated the window positions as he had left them that day, being side and rear windows open.
"He also showed me a supply of water which he informed me he took everywhere.
A vet, who also gave evidence in the case said: “In my opinion, leaving the dogs in a hot car would have caused them to suffer."
"Within a short period of time the temperature in a hot car can increase quickly and cause severe suffering or possible death cause severe suffering or possible death.
“Dogs cannot sweat, only pant. Over a certain temperature, the brain loses the ability to regulate it, and in many cases it ends up in a heat stroke that will lead to multiple organ failure and death.
"Any reasonable owner should know leaving dogs in a car on the hottest day could have led to their deaths.”
Owen will have to pay a £797 fine and £400 in costs, but will not be barred from keeping animals.
The court heard in mitigation that the incident was a "serious, one off error" that would not be repeated.