DOG owners in Redditch and Bromsgrove are being urged to be ‘cool not cruel’ to their pets during the hot weather.

Worcestershire’s dog warden Pip Singleton, who works for Worcestershire Regulatory Services, fears that people are still leaving their dogs in cars, which can lead to an horrific and painful death.

She said: “It’s like putting your dog in an oven and turning the temperature up – the suffering is horrendous for them yet despite all the messages being put out social media, we are still getting calls about it.”

Ms Singleton added: “Pets have no voice so owners need to be responsible. If you are hot – then odds on they are too. And you wouldn’t sit in a car in these temperatures, even with the windows open, for more than ten minutes – so why should they?".