Authorities are issuing warnings to pet owners after a dog, left in a car parked in front of a shopping mall in Warsaw, died of excessive heat.

The owners, returning from an international dog show held at the outskirts of the capital city, went shopping, leaving their two dogs in the car. With temperatures well over 30 Celsius, one of the animals apparently suffered a heat stroke. When the owners came back, alerted by guards, it was too late to resuscitate the animal.

Warsaw city animal guards point out that during the heat wave, the temperature inside the car may rise up to 60 degrees. The guard chief commander Mateusz Janda says they will react firmly when they see animals locked in a car in full sunshine.

“Together with police officers, we will force open the car doors and break windows to save the animals,”  stated Janda.

Cruelty to animals carries a penalty of up to one year in prison. A draft law toughening the penalties has been presented to parliament and awaits discussion. (kk/mmj)