Heat-stressed dog rescued from car

NEW ZEALAND -- A heat-distressed dog was rescued by firefighters from a car in Dunedin yesterday.

University of Otago student Jay Song (24), of Dunedin, said he was walking to a friend's house in North Dunedin about noon when he saw a Jack Russell alone in a parked station wagon in Park St.

All windows in the car were closed, he said.

On returning home an hour later, Mr Song saw the dog was still in the car, tied up in the back of the car and lying down.

"It was definitely dehydrated.''


Photo: Otago Daily Times

He called 111.

Station Officer Brent Key, of Willowbank Station, said the firefighters discovered the car was unlocked and gave the dog water to drink and aired out the "hot'' car. Soon after, the "upset'' dog owner showed up and told the crew he thought he had left a window down.

Mr Key said if the car had been locked, the firefighters would have called the SPCA, and if an inspector had confirmed the dog was distressed, they would have smashed a window.

SPCA Otago executive officer Sophie McSkimming said if the temperature was 30degC outside, the temperature inside a car parked in the shade, with the windows slightly open, would be 39degC within 10 minutes.

"In half an hour, it will go up another 10degC.''

On a hot day, dogs should be left at home rather than being left in a parked car, even for a few minutes.

If someone finds a heat-distressed dog in a parked car, they should phone SPCA Otago on (03) 473-8252 or (0800) 682-467 FREE.

(Otago Daily Times - Nov 27, 2015)