Shopper smashes car window to free dog that had been sweltering for more than 30 minutes
- Zoey Thornton noticed a pet inside car in Tesco car park in Fforestfach, Swansea
- Shoppers asked Tesco, Home Bargains and Poundland to make announcement
- Clip then shows man jump through car window after smashing it to rescue dog
Shoppers smashed open a car window to rescue a dog left inside for at least half an hour as temperatures soared to 72F this weekend.
Passersby had noticed the pet in a Tesco car park in Fforestfach, Swansea on Sunday, with the front window cracked slightly open.
But concerned about the welfare of the animal, and after asking Tesco, Home Bargains and Poundland to send out PA announcements to try and find the owners, those in the car park decided to smash the window to free the dog.
Zoey Thornton, 29, who captured footage of the incident this weekend, claimed the dog was inside the vehicle on its own for ‘at least 30 minutes.’
Concerned shoppers had noticed a dog inside a car in a Tesco car park on a sweltering day in Fforestfach, Swansea on Sunday, and smashed the window (pictured) to rescue it
Ms Thornton, who lives in Mayhill, said she was putting her shopping bags into the car when she noticed a woman looking concerned nearby.
‘We went over to see if everything was alright and it turns out that the dog was inside, it was really hot,’ she said.
‘The window was open a little bit but we were there for at least half an hour before any action was taken.’
She added: ‘It’s long enough for a dog to overheat in a car.’
In the clip, a man is seen jumping into the car through the window after smashing it to get the dog, who was ‘panting quite heavily’.
The shoppers then attempt to give the pet some water and move it into the shade.
‘We made announcements in Tesco, Home Bargains and Poundland for the owner to come out to the car but no one came out,’ Ms Thornton said. ‘We phoned the police and they turned up before the owners arrived.
After removing the dog (pictured) from the car in 72F (22C) heat, shoppers attempted to give it water and move it into a shady spot
Zoey Thornton, 29, who captured footage of the incident this weekend, claimed the dog was inside the vehicle on its own for ‘at least 30 minutes’
‘The dog was panting quite heavy. The people who noticed it first of all said they were there for a good 10 to 15 minutes before we got there.
‘We smashed the window just before the police had arrived as it was starting to get too long. We just thought that was the next option as the car was getting hotter.
‘I’ve got dogs myself and I wouldn’t leave them in the car. I just want people to be aware not to leave their dogs in the car in hot weather.’
South Wales Police said the owner was ‘given advice’, as they asked anyone who notices a dog in distress to call emergency services.
A spokeswoman for South Wales Police said: ‘We received reports about a dog in a car at Fforestfach at about 2.30pm on May 31.
‘Officers attended and the dog had already been released from the car. The owner was located and given advice.
‘We would like to remind people that dogs can die in hot cars. If you see a dog in distress you can call us on 101 or in an emergency 999 – more information is available at https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/health/dogsinhotcars.’