THE RSPCA has reissued a plea for dog owners to take care not to leave pets in cars as the hot weather finally arrives.
The charity has relaunched its campaign warning that dogs die in hot cars as weather forecasters predict a hot summer ahead.
They say inspectors are regularly called out to rescue dogs trapped in sweltering cars during the summer.
Martyn Hubbard, regional superintendent, said: "A dog left in a warm car will quickly begin to suffer from heatstroke and can die an agonising death.
"Each year a number of dogs are literally cooked to death. Leaving windows open and a bowl of water is not enough," he said.
The temperature of a car can reach over 49 degrees, even with a little sun and even if the car is parked in the shade, the position of the sun will change.
In 1999, 12 people were found guilty of leaving dogs in hot cars.
Anyone found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a dog under the Protection of Animals Act can be fined £5,000 and jailed for six months. Owners could also be banned from keeping animals for life.
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