CARER AVOIDS PUNISHMENT AFTER LEAVING DOG IN HOT CAR ON SCORCHING DAY
A support worker named Hazel Donald has been found guilty of leaving her dog, Biggie, unattended in a car during a hot July day, but she did not receive any punishment.Donald, aged 54, was convicted of failing to provide a suitable environment for her dog in direct sunlight, with insufficient ventilation and hydration, and no escape route, which exposed the dog to excessive heat.
The incident occurred on Golf Crescent in Inverurie on July 26, 2019.
Although Donald claimed she took steps to keep Biggie cool, such as taking him for a walk, leaving the windows open, and providing a bowl of water with a cooling gel pad, police found the water empty and observed signs of distress from the dog, including heavy panting.
The police noted the temperature inside the vehicle was 28°C, and experts from the SSPCA advised that dogs should not be left in cars on such days.
Despite her denial of the offense, Sheriff Morag McLaughlin found her guilty at Aberdeen Sheriff Court, concluding that she failed to meet the reasonable care standards for her dog, though the offense was considered to be at the lower end of seriousness, and it was not premeditated.
She was admonished, meaning her conviction remains on her record but she faces no further punishment.
The court recognized she cared for her dog and was in a difficult situation that day.
Following the case, the Scottish SPCA emphasized the dangers of leaving pets in hot cars, warning that 22°C outside can mean 44°C inside a vehicle, and urged witnesses to call emergency services if they see a dog in danger.
