Police were forced to smash a window to rescue a small dog locked in a car for two hours on one of the hottest days of the year.
Officers are now considering a prosecution on animal cruelty charges after an RSPCA inspector was called to the scene at a coach station car park near The Newmarket Tavern in Plymouth yesterday.
As the Charles Cross Police Team commented on Twitter: "He was very happy to be set free!"
Officers who attended said the family were not happy when they returned at 4pm and found their car window had been smashed, reports PlymouthLive.
PCSO Tracy Cunningham said that just as they were arranging a transporter to remove the car the owners arrived: "They weren't happy with us because their window was put in."
PCSO Cunningham said it was explained to the family - via an interpreter over the phone - that the matter was serious and police had the right and powers to free the dog due to the heat and risk to its life.
RSPCA campaign
It follows the RSPCA 'Dogs Die In Hot Cars' campaign.
PCSO Tracy Cunningham said police received a call at just after 4pm from a member of the public about a car parked up at the coach station car park, near the Newmarket pub.
She said the parking ticket on the car started at 2pm and it was gone 4pm when the call came in.
PCSO Cunningham and colleague PCSO Lucy Musgrove headed towards the scene to find two ARV response officers - who were closer - already there.
They had already smashed the window of the car and got the dog out before calling the RSPCA to attend.
PCSO Cunningham said that just as they were arranging a transporter to remove the car the owners turned up. She confirmed it was a family who had been shopping.
The RSPCA officer then removed the dog and it was taken to an approved vets to be checked over.
PCSO Cunningham confirmed the dog was likely to have been inside the car for at least two hours before being freed.
She added: "At this stage, after the dog has been checked out, it will be up to the vet to determine what happens next."
