Dead pup found tied up in hot weather prompts warning from the RSPCA

RSPCA officers were horrified when they found a dead puppy entangled while its companion panted furiously in the heat. WARNING: Graphic.

WARNING: Distressing content

Horrific pictures of a puppy lying dead while another pants in the heat tied up next to it has prompted a serious warning from the RSPCA.

The tiny bull arab cross was found dead with a chain around its neck in regional Queensland.

It’s believed the four-month-old became entangled while tied up with its companion during hot weather.

“Every year our inspectors are called to incidents where dogs have died or are near death because of the heat,” RSPCA Queensland spokesman Michael Beatty said.

“In this case both dogs were tethered and it appears they became entangled.

A chain can be seen tangled around a young dog's neck as it lies dead on a property in regional Queensland.

Another dog was found alive tied up nearby.

“A dog can survive for days without food, but in these temperatures, if they don’t have shade or can’t reach water they’ll die.”

Since the start of November the organisation has had 483 calls reporting heat stress and so far this year 1202 calls about dogs being left in hot cars.

They tested a light coloured sedan and the temperature rose to 57C in 12 minutes.

“If it’s thirty degrees outside, the temperature inside a car can potentially rise to well over 40C in less than five minutes,” Mr Beatty said.

“Any animal left inside would have been dead.

The RSCPA is waiting for a post-mortem to figure out if the pup died from heat stress or being entangled.

“We’ve seen cases where a rope or a chain has become entangled in furniture or plants and that can be fatal. It’s far better to make the yard or courtyard secure and then it won’t be necessary to tether the dog in the first place.

“We would also recommend that there are at least two to three containers of water in case one gets knocked over.”

The RSPCA could not yet reveal where the dogs were found because an investigation into their condition is ongoing.

If you see an animal in distress, you can contact the RSPCA’s 24/7 Animal Emergency Hotline on 1300 ANIMAL.

A surviving dog is given water after it was found by RSPCA inspectors.