In the sweltering summer heat, the air we breathe feels like it's been baked by fire. Most people dislike going out at such times, but when household necessities are scarce, we have no choice but to go shopping. However, when shopping, we must remember one thing: never lock your children or pets in your car, especially in the blazing sun. Recently, a dog owner in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, forgot this and left his two dogs in his sun-baked car while shopping at the supermarket.
Fortunately, the dog owner was somewhat conscious and left a small crack in the car window before leaving, giving the dog a chance to breathe. However, he probably didn't realize how terrible it is to be exposed to the scorching sun. Most animals cannot survive in such an environment for more than two hours; they would suffer terribly until they dehydrate and die – a pain we cannot imagine. Luckily, the dog, trapped in the car, started whimpering in distress. Just then, a patrol officer happened to pass by. After observing the dog's condition and noticing that the car had been parked for two hours, he immediately smashed the car window and rescued the dog.
The dog was overjoyed after being rescued, excitedly hugging the police officer's leg. Many might say the officer was too reckless, fearing the car owner would sue for damages. However, in the UK, such actions are not only not questioned but praised. Netizens applauded the officer's behavior, while the car owner received a warning from relevant authorities. This is because the UK is a pet-loving country where pets are protected by law, and animal abuse is a serious crime, deserving of contempt.
People might think that dogs have strong immune systems and won't be harmed if they're kept in a car for a while, but actually, staying in a car under the scorching sun is not a simple matter. Experiments have shown that when the surface temperature is around 20 degrees Celsius, the temperature inside a car can reach over 40 degrees Celsius. When the surface temperature reaches 30 or 40 degrees Celsius, being in a car is like enduring torture for people or animals. Many careless pet owners have let their beloved pets die from the heat in their cars.
What's most unbelievable is that some parents are so careless as to forget their children in the car. Recently, a young father in the Bronx, New York, left his twin children in his car while he was on his way to work. He left at 8 a.m. and didn't remember his children until 4 p.m. By then, the children were foaming at the mouth. The father was ultimately convicted of manslaughter, but the criminal law is probably not a severe punishment for him. He will likely carry the burden of guilt for the rest of his life. Everyone should learn from this and not follow in his footsteps.
