An abandoned dog was just an a hour from suffering a painful death after being discovered locked in a conservatory in 110-degree heat.

A letting agent making a chance visit to the house in Parham Road, Canterbury, discovered the young Staffordshire bull terrier in a distressed state.

The RSPCA was called and an inspector estimated the temperature in the glass conservatory to be a sweltering 43C on the hottest July day ever.

She had been alerted by the agent, who went to inspect the rented home after the tenants moved out.

Area RSPCA deputy chief inspector Caroline Doe said: “It was like an oven – another hour and that dog would have been dead.

“The agent said it was just lucky he visited when he did, because he could have easily left it until a couple of days later.”

Earlier on the same day last Wednesday, police had to force their way into a vehicle in the Whitefriars multi-storey car park in the city after passers-by saw a labrador panting and breathing heavily on the front seat at 1.15pm.

Two back windows were slightly open and a bowl in the car had 1cm of warm water in it.

PC Sally Wright managed to reach in and open the back door and the dog was taken to an air conditioned room and given fresh cold water.

The owners of the Ford SMAX, who were visiting from Essex, returned to the car at 2pm, having left the dog at 10am. They were not happy their dog had been removed, claiming she pants because she is 10 years old.

PC Wright took their details and reported her concerns to the RSPCA the following day.

Insp Doe said: “People who leave pets locked in a cars or conservatories on hot days are likely to subject the animal to suffering and could be prosecuted.

"It is simply not an excuse to say ‘I didn’t know’. It’s not rocket science. All drivers know how hot a car can get, even on a warm day. A dog can soon become distressed, suffer from heat exposure and dehydration and can die an incredibly painful and horrible death in as little as 20 minutes.

“Neither is it any good leaving a window slightly open, which has little effect on the temperature inside the car.

“Leaving a bowl of water can actually make it worse because it evaporates and makes the vehicle more humid and more difficult for the dog to breathe.

“Leaving a dog in a hot car is simply stupid and cruel.”

insp Doe says the Staffie found in the conservatory is now being cared for in kennels, with a note left at the house. An investigation into the dog’s unnecessary suffering has been launched.