On a scorching Wednesday in midsummer four years ago, police in Meinerzhagen, in the Märkischer Kreis region of Germany, received an urgent call for help: a motorhome with a dog inside was standing on a motorway service area on the A45, fighting for its life in the heat.
The officers raced to the scene immediately. What they found there horrified them completely.
Barely alive
With outside temperatures of 30°C (86°F), an owner had locked his dog inside the motorhome. The small tilted roof window didn't allow enough fresh air into the plastic prison to provide any cooling. Even the water bowl on the floor didn't significantly improve the animal's situation.
And the dog was suffering! When police arrived, he was already lying apathetically on the floor. Only his heavy panting showed he was just about still alive!
Furious owner's shocking reaction
The officers acted immediately and smashed a window, allowing them to free the dog from the overheated prison. They took him back to the station, where he could recover.
Shortly afterwards, the 64-year-old dog owner contacted them and he was anything but relieved! Instead, he accused the officers of stealing his dog. A word of thanks? Not a chance!
Sadly, hardly a day passes in summer without fresh horror stories about dogs and cats being thoughtlessly left in cars while their owners go shopping, cool themselves down swimming or go to the cinema. While most owners seem to understand that animals can die in such situations, some appear unaware of this reality.
