Furious police officers told off two dog owners after smashing a car window to rescue their pet left inside in the sweltering heat.
Footage taken yesterday near Leicester Square, central London, shows a woman protesting that the animal had a bowl of water, with one cop replying: "It's an oven!"
The dog had allegedly been trapped inside the electric Hyundai with the windows closed, on the same day that temperatures above 37C were recorded in the capital city.
Max, who filmed the clip, told The Mirror that a passerby phoned the police after the dog was left inside "for around an hour".
He said: "It was so hot. After the woman arrived I told her she shouldn't have left her dog in that heat for so long. She said 'I know I was stupid' and then started crying."
Metropolitan Police officers were called to the street at around 6.15pm and broke a window to rescue the dog.
A spokesperson for the force said: "At 18:16hrs on Monday, 18 July police were alerted by a concerned member of the public to a dog inside a car with the windows closed in Oxendon Street, SW1.
"The dog, which had allegedly been in the car for some time, appeared to be suffering in the heat.
"Officers attended and broke a window to gain entry to the dog. The owners of the car were spoken to and their details taken.
"The dog appeared in good health once it had been released from the car."
Elsewhere in the north west of the capital yesterday, police smashed the window of another car with a dog trapped inside.
Barnet MPS tweeted: "Unbelievably, our officers have just had to smash the window of a vehicle to get a dog out at the RAF museum Hendon. 31.5 degrees! JUST DON'T TAKE DOGS OUT IN THIS HEAT."
It came just four days after police in south west London freed two muzzled dogs left in a hot car for over an hour with the window open by less than an inch.
Kew Police wrote on social media: "Unbelievable end to the shift.
"Leave your dogs in a hot car, less than an inch of gap, no water, muzzled, for over an hour and you better know we are going to be smashing that window.
"Absolutely heartbreaking. Thankfully dogs now fine. Owner to be interviewed under caution."
Britain is currently enduring the hottest day on record after temperatures reached 40C just before 1pm today.
Parts of the UK will see possible highs of 41C making the country hotter than Jamaica, the Maldives and Barbados - with rail users warned of delays, cancellations and changes to train services.
Amid the record-breaking temperatures, the RSPCA is warning pet owners not to leave their animals in cars, conservatories, outbuildings or caravans, even for a short while.
If it is just 22C outside, temperatures can quickly rise to 47C in these environments.
The RSPCA advises anyone who sees a dog in a hot car to firstly assess the animal's condition, and to dial 999 immediately if it is showing any signs of heatstroke.
The charity says: "If the dog's condition is critical, and the police haven't arrived yet, your instinct will be to break into the car to free them. But please be aware that this could be classed as criminal damage.
"You may need to defend your actions in court, so please be sure you're doing the right thing. Legally, you can commit damage if you believe the car owner would consent to it if they knew the dog was in danger."
If you are sure you need to save the dog, then you should tell police what you intend to do and why. People are also urged to take photos and videos of the dog, alongside taking the contact details of any witnesses nearby.
Dog owners are also being advised against walking their pets in the hot weather, as they are less able to cope than humans in the heat.
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home suggests a gentle walk very early or late in the evening, when the temperature has significantly reduced.
It can also painful for dogs to walk on surfaces that heat up in the sun, and they can even sustain burns in extreme conditions.
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home say if it feels too hot for you to touch, then chances are your pet is thinking the same.
