Police smash van window to save overheated dog in Lancaster

Officers smashed the passenger window of the Ford Transit van in Lancaster yesterday afternoon (August 26) to prevent the dog from overheating.

The city's dog warden had been called to investigate after a concerned member of the public spotted the dog left alone inside the unventilated van.

An RSPCA officer also attended the scene to assess the situation and the distressed dog was deemed to be in danger of overheating.

The decision was then made to call the police for help and attending officers agreed that the dog was in need of rescue.

The window was smashed and the dog safely removed from the van and placed into the care of the dog warden.

A spokesman for Lancaster Area Police said: "A warning to anyone keeping a dog locked up in a hot unventilated car all day to the detriment to the dogs welfare.

"You need to know two things: Police officers like dogs and police officers are skilled in forcing entry to places.

"Today officers attended a now well ventilated vehicle, following concerns raised by a member of the public, the RSPCA and Dog Warden.

"The dog is now thankfully safe and well.

"This seems to be another message we need to keep repeating, "Dogs Die in Hot Cars". Please think and be responsible."