Dog left sweltering in car

A RETIREE has been given a good behaviour bond after absent-mindedly locking his dog inside a ute for an hour on a high-30 degree day in Queen Street, Dandenong.
The man told police he was visiting a business longer than anticipated while his distressed dog was found heavily panting and lying on its side inside the ute on 6 February.
Dandenong Magistrates’ Court was told that the man had intended to leave a window open but was concerned his dog would be agitated by another canine outside the vehicle.
The man’s lawyer told the court on 15 June that a vet’s reference vouched for the accused caring well for the dog in the past eight years.
Magistrate Jack Vandersteen equated the impact as similar to leaving a child in a car, which would have been much hotter than the estimated 35-38 degrees centigrade outside.
Had the man been sitting in the vehicle, he would surely extract himself within an hour; the dog didn’t have that choice, Mr Vandersteen said.
“On any measure the dog was left in the car for far too long.”
Mr Vandersteen took into account the man’s age and guilty plea as he sentenced him to a 12-month good behaviour bond without conviction.