Man Sleeps While Dog Boils in 38°C Car
Michael Haye, 39, from Walthamstow, left his Rottweiler, Shay, trapped in a car park on a scorching 38-degree day. Haye dozed off inside a Premier Inn hotel in South Mimms, unaware his dog was suffering in the blazing heat.
Passerby’s Quick Thinking Saves Dog’s Life
A concerned passerby spotted Shay in distress in the middle of the afternoon on 18 July last year – the day the Met Office issued its first-ever high Red heat warning. The Rottweiler was foaming at the mouth and barely able to move inside the sweltering car.
The good Samaritan tested the unlocked door, climbed in, and gave Shay water, helping to cool him down. Police arrived, drenched the dog with water, switched on air con, and rushed him to the Royal Veterinary College. Shay’s temperature had soared to a dangerous 42°C, but thankfully he pulled through and is now being rehomed.
Owner Banned & Fined for Animal Cruelty
Haye was found asleep in the hotel, claiming he’d left water for Shay. But the bottle and dog bowl found were dry and too hot to touch – hardly a lifeline in the heatwave.
“The poor dog was so weak he couldn’t walk and had to be lifted into a police car,” said Detective Sergeant Mikey Logue.
St Albans Magistrates slapped Haye with a 10-year dog ownership ban and ordered him to pay £6,504.77 in kennel and vet bills. He also received a community order requiring 100 hours of unpaid work over the next year.
Police Warn: Never Leave Pets in Hot Cars
Hertfordshire Police issued a stern warning after the incident. They stressed the dangers of leaving dogs in vehicles during heatwaves – a risk that could prove fatal.
