Two beloved French bulldogs died when the dog sitter paid to look after them left the pair in a car as temperatures skyrocketed, a court heard.
Lila and Phab were found dead in an unattended vehicle used by Janine Maloney on September 5, 2021.
Temperatures on the day ranged between 16C and 22C, while the pair had not been given any access to water and the windows had been left closed.
Maloney, from Bridgend, Wales, ran a commercial dog walking and pet sitting business known as Pet Patrol Club.
During a hearing at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on February 6 she was handed a 16-week suspended prison sentence after previously pleading guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the two dogs, Wales Online reported.
The owner, who has not been named, said: “It has been horrendous. I have nightmares about what they would have gone through. I trusted this person.
"I just don’t want other people and animals to go through this. I would like to thank the RSPCA for all their support and I would also like to thank the community for their support as well."
A vet said in written evidence they believed Lila and Phab ‘have been caused to suffer’ and their needs were ‘not met to the extent required by good practice’.
The statement added: "The post mortem evidence showed both dogs were found to have pathology changes consistent with having died via a mechanism of heat stroke/stress, having a number of haemorrhagic areas in the body.
“Both dogs were French Bulldogs having a shortened nose anatomy (brachycephalic) that had also been affected by Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS). They were also both overweight which likely contributed to their susceptibility to heat stress.
“Undoubtedly the two dogs would have suffered as a consequence of excessive heat in the car under the circumstances of an external environmental temperature above 20C, poor ventilation and no access to water.
“Suffering will have been experienced by these two dogs via a mechanism of escalating respiratory distress and an inability to effectively dissipate body heat.”
.In mitigation the court heard Maloney had closed down the business, is a carer for an elderly relative and said it was a tragic mistake.
The District Judge however said there was a “blatant lack of care” and on the day she did nothing and didn’t check on the dogs.
Speaking after sentencing Deputy Chief Inspector Gemma Black Gemma Black, said: “I would like to thank my colleagues inspector Julie Fadden and deputy chief inspector Gemma Cooper for their work on this heartbreaking case - and all of our thoughts go out to the owner of Lila and Phab.
“We hope this tragic case reminds people the risk to the lives of animals is so high.
“Our message is simple: never leave a dog in a hot car - ‘not long’ is too long, and if you see a dog in a hot car, call 999 immediately.”
