Dutch police smash car window to free trapped dog
On Wednesday, Dutch police in the town of Valkenswaard smashed the window of a parked car to free a dog in distress.
Europe is in the midst of an "unprecedented" heatwave.
According to Storyful, the temperature at the time of the rescue was 27 degrees Celsius.
“We have provided the car with ‘ventilation’, at the owner’s expense of course,” police said in a Facebook post, adding that the dog is now "doing well” and is being cared for elsewhere.
It's not clear how long the dog was in the car or if the owner of the vehicle was charged.
ALSO IN ANIMALS:
CARS HEAT UP QUICKLY ON HOT DAYS
When the temperature is 26 degrees Celsius outside, experts say the temperature can climb to 32 degrees inside a car that's parked in the shade, and 71 degrees if the car is parked in the sun within minutes.
"A dog's normal temperature is 39 degrees [and] when they reach 41, they can only withstand that for a small amount of time before there can be brain damage," reads a statement on the Windsor/Essex County Humane Society's website.
Prolonged exposure can lead to death.
In Canada, people who leave animals unattended in a car in a manner that risks health and safety could be charged under a provincial SPCA act and under the Criminal Code of Canada.
Penalties include possible jail time, a lifetime ban against owning animals and up to $60,000 in fines.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
When traveling in a car with your dog, experts recommend leaving a person in the vehicle to monitor the animal. If you plan on being out for an extended period, leave your pet at home.
Should you come across an unattended animal locked inside a hot car, contact your local SPCA or police immediately.
Sources: Windsor Humane | Facebook (via Storyful)
