TRAGIC HEATWAVE DEATHS: CHRISTINE CARPENTER OF RINGWOOD KILLS DOGS IN HOT CAR DURING EXTREME WEATHER

In a heartbreaking incident that unfolded during one of the hottest days of the year, Christine Carpenter, a professional dog walker based in Ringwood, was convicted of causing the death of two beloved pet dogs by leaving them unattended in her vehicle under extreme heat conditions. The incident took place amidst a severe heatwave in summer 2021, when temperatures soared to 29°C outside, and the country was under its first-ever extreme heat warning issued by the Met Office.

Christine Carpenter, who operated her business under the name 'Chris’s Absolute Pets,' was responsible for walking a group of dogs, including her own rescue dog, on what was the third day of a historic heatwave across the south-west of England. The day prior had seen temperatures reach a scorching 32.2°C at Heathrow Airport, marking the hottest day of the year at that point.

According to court proceedings, Carpenter collected the dogs from the Narbey family’s home in Ringwood at approximately 12:30 pm. The owners, Roy and Kate Narbey, trusted her to care for their pets, Poppy, an 11-year-old King Charles Cavalier, and Pixie, a five-year-old spaniel cross. Mrs. Narbey advised Carpenter to take the dogs for a brief half-hour walk, given the oppressive heat, and even offered her a drink, which Carpenter declined, citing concerns about leaving the animals in her car.

However, as hours passed, concern grew among the owners. Mrs. Narbey became worried when Carpenter had not returned with the dogs by 5:30 pm. She attempted to contact her via phone and text messages but received no response. By 6:15 pm, her anxiety intensified, prompting her to call again. This time, Carpenter answered, but her tone was shaky, and she asked, “were you worried about me?”

Mrs. Narbey, sensing something was wrong, urged Carpenter to take the dogs to the vet immediately. Within minutes of arriving at the veterinary clinic, the devastating news was delivered: both dogs had died. Carpenter tearfully told the vet, “I only left them for a minute, I love them like they are my own.”

Veterinary examinations revealed that both Poppy and Pixie were “noticeably warm to the touch,” with internal temperatures reaching nearly 43°C—significantly higher than the normal range of 38-39°C. The maximum temperature the thermometer could record was used, indicating that their actual internal temperatures could have been even higher. The vet confirmed that the dogs succumbed to heat stress caused by prolonged exposure to the high temperatures inside the car.

Further investigation by the police and RSPCA uncovered that Carpenter had taken the dogs out during the hottest part of the day, leaving them in her car with the windows open while she briefly went inside her house. She later claimed she went back outside to retrieve her shopping bag, intending to go to the supermarket, and that she felt unwell during this time. She admitted to locking the house and returning briefly inside, but she was unaware of how long the dogs had been in the vehicle.

During police interviews, Carpenter acknowledged that she had left the dogs in her car, and she accepted that her actions had directly led to their deaths. A veterinary expert concluded that the dogs died from heat stress due to exposure to the extreme environment inside the vehicle.

In court, her defense argued that Carpenter had immediately ceased her business following the incident and was deeply traumatized by her actions. Nonetheless, she pleaded guilty to charges of causing unnecessary suffering to the animals and neglecting her duty of care.

The court sentenced Carpenter to 18 weeks in prison and disqualified her from owning any animals for a period of eight years. The tragic case has left the owners, Roy and Kate Narbey, devastated, and serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by leaving pets in vehicles during heatwaves.