'Please don't do this': Dog is left in hot car in this Leeds car park

The dog's owner had gone shopping at Sainsbury's in Colton Retail Park and left their dog inside the car, with the window slightly ajar.

-> Hour by hour forecast as 35 degree heatwave hits Leeds TODAYSergeant Ian Micklethwaite, of the Outer East Leeds police team, was flagged down and alerted to the incident on Wednesday.

An announcement was made over the tannoy in Sainsbury's and the owner returned to the car.

Sgt Micklethwaite on Twitter: "In the space of less than 10 minutes the dog was starting to pant / overheat.

"Just don’t do it."

The Leeds East team said on Facebook that they had already several calls about dogs in hot cars.

-> 13 reasons why Leeds is the world's best summer cityWest Yorkshire Police said in a statement: "Many people still believe that it's OK to leave a dog in a car on a warm day if the windows are left open or they're parked in the shade, but the truth is, it's still a very dangerous situation for the dog.

"A car can become as hot as an oven very quickly, even when it doesn't feel that warm.

"When it's 22 degrees, in a car it can reach an unbearable 47 degrees within the hour."

-> West Yorkshire Police warn owners not to leave dogs in hot cars as temperature set to top 30 degrees in YorkshireWhat to do if you see a dog in a car on a warm day:

"In an emergency, we may not be able to attend quickly enough, and with no powers of entry, we'd need police assistance at such an incident.

"Don't be afraid to dial 999, the police will inform us if animal welfare assistance is required."

Help a dog in a hot car:

•Establish the animal's health and condition. If they're displaying any signs of heatstroke dial 999 immediately.

•If the situation becomes critical for the dog and the police are too far away or unable to attend, many people's instinct will be to break into the car to free the dog. If you decide to do this, please be aware that without proper justification, this could be classed as criminal damage and, potentially, you may need to defend your actions in court.

•Make sure you tell the police what you intend to do and why. Take pictures or videos of the dog and the names and numbers of witnesses to the incident. The law states that you have a lawful excuse to commit damage if you believe that the owner of the property that you damage would consent to the damage if they knew the circumstances (section 5(2)(a) Criminal Damage Act 1971).

Once removed, if the dog is displaying signs of heatstroke, follow our emergency first aid advice. This could mean the difference between life and death for the dog.

If the dog isn't displaying symptoms of heatstroke:

•Establish how long the dog has been in the car. A 'pay and display' ticket could help.

•Make a note of the car's registration. If the owner returns, but you still feel the situation was dangerous for the dog, you may still report the incident to the police.

•If you're at a shop, venue or event ask the staff to make an announcement to alert the owner of the situation.

•If possible, get someone to stay with the dog to monitor their condition. If they begin to display signs of distress or heatstroke, be prepared to dial 999.

•You can also call our 24-hour cruelty line for advice on 0300 1234 999. However, if the dog's in danger, dialing 999 should always be the first step.