Overview

• A 19-year-old man left his dog in a locked car during an hour-long swim in Dingolfing, Bavaria, and returned to find the animal had succumbed to heat exposure.
• He drove the pet to a local veterinarian who confirmed the dog’s death before alerting police.
• Dingolfing authorities have opened an investigation into a suspected violation of Germany’s animal protection law.
• Officers warn that leaving animals or children in parked vehicles is illegal and can become fatal within minutes.
• Research shows a car’s interior temperature can climb by up to 26 °C in an hour and exceed 70 °C under direct sunlight.