Stockport neighbourhood officers rescue 'distressed' dog trapped in car

Dog owners are being warned to take care of their animals in hot weather after neighbourhood officers rescued a dog from a car during the recent heatwave.

Stockport West neighbourhood officers, PC James Zammit and PC Harry Maule, attended the incident in the John Lewis car park in Cheadle after a call from store staff.

On arrival they found the distressed dog inside a parked car and decided to take decisive action.

PC Zammit said: “The dog had been left in car and had probably been in there for about 30 minutes.

“It was very hot, about 29 degrees, all the car windows were shut and the dog had no water.

“The animal was clearly distressed and panting heavily, so we decided it was best to smash the car window and rescue the dog – it was then seized under the Animal Welfare Act and the owner spoken to.

“The dog was taken to a vet, who deemed it was in good health and said it would have no lasting issues. The dog is otherwise in good health and was looked after by trained staff.”

Following an investigation, no further action was taken and the dog returned to its owner.

Stockport District Chief Inspector Clare Ryle said: “Preservation of life is core principle of policing and that extends to animals and I would like to commend James and Harry for their quick thinking and decisive action that may have saved this dog’s life.

"Neighbourhood officers on the Stockport West team cover the Cheadle, Bramhall, the Heatons and Reddish areas with a focus on dealing with burglary, dangerous driving and drugs matters, which is what the public have told us they are most concerned about.

"On a daily basis they are out and about in their area and deal proactively with whatever they come across, and his incident is a prime example.

"The team is always keen to hear from their communities - any concerns or information can be reported to or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via the reporting options on the GMP website.

"People can also keep in touch with their neighbourhood teams via Bee in the Loop."

The RSPCA runs its Dogs Die in Hot Cars campaign during the hot weather.

A spokesperson said: "The RSPCA strongly advises pet owners to never leave any animal in any vehicle or caravan, or in a conservatory or outbuilding, where temperatures can quickly rise, even when it doesn’t feel that warm outside.

"For example, when it’s 22C outside, within an hour the temperature can reach 47C inside a vehicle, which can result in death. In an emergency, it is best to dial 999 and report a dog in a hot car to police."

• In March, Greater Manchester Police revealed plans for an additional 264 neighbourhood police officers as part of an overhaul of Neighbourhood Policing. The roll-out across the GMP force area means more officers tackling the crimes that matter the most to communities – including violent crime, drugs, anti-social behaviour, burglary, and vehicle crime.
• Bee in the Loop is your direct line to your neighbourhood policing team. To receive free text or email alerts to keep you in the loop about what is happening on your street and in your local community, sign up to www.beeintheloop.co.uk.
• Find out more about the RSPCA Dogs Die in Hot Cars campaign on its website - Dogs Die In Hot Cars | RSPCA