Two Met Police dogs left in unventilated vehicle die Published duration 27 June 2011

image caption The dogs were found in the vehicle in the Met's dog training centre in Keston

Two Metropolitan Police dogs - a German Shepherd puppy and a working Belgian Malinois - have died after being left in an unventilated private vehicle.

Officers, who forced their way into the vehicle after being alerted, found both dogs collapsed on Sunday.

They were taken from the dog training centre in south-east London to an emergency vets, where both later died.

An inquiry into the incident has begun and the Independent Police Complaints Commission has been made aware.

The RSPCA, also investigating the incident at Keston, near Bromley, where temperatures reached almost 30C on Sunday, advised people not to leave dogs in vehicles "for any length of time" during hot weather.

'Tip of iceberg'

An RSPCA spokeswoman said: "Every year, the RSPCA receives about 6,000 calls from members of the public worried about dogs that have been left in cars during hot weather.

"But this may only be the tip of the iceberg and many cases may be unreported.

"Even when it is just 22C outside, the heat in a car can rise to 47C within 60 minutes," she said.

The RSPCA reminded dog owners that leaving a window open or a bowl of water in the car makes little difference.