A retired lecturer left his Cockapoo in a car for two hours during 20C heat as he attended a community meeting nearby.
David Kent, 63, was charged with animal cruelty after a member of the public alerted police officers on May 31.
When it was rescued, the three-year-old dog – a cross between a cocker spaniel and a poodle – was ‘excessively panting for breath’.
Kent, of Chelford, Cheshire, insisted he left his dog with water and the window was down six inches as he attended a meeting of a village volunteer group.
But prosecutor Lucy Garside said the police officer who arrived on scene could not see any water and argued the window was down just one inch.
Ms Garside said: ‘When he opened the door (the officer) could see that the dog was panting excessively and was physically hot to touch, he also noticed there was no water left in the boot for the dog.
‘The call was made at 1pm and by the time the officer arrived it was 3.20pm, the dog had been left in the vehicle for over two hours in a distressed state.
‘Information taken from the Met Office weather report showed the weather was sunny with a temperature of 20 degrees celsius for the time the dog was in the car.’
The officer who tracked down Kent said: ‘You should be ashamed of yourself – the dog thinks more of you than you do of him.’
Kent admitted causing unnecessary suffering and was fined £136, plus £115 costs.
The court heard Kent and his partner, who previously ran a restaurant, had purchased the dog from Manchester Dog Home after their beloved dog of 13 years died last Christmas.
They realised the dog was not ‘socialised’ after it jumped up at a neighbour.
Kent said he couldn’t leave the dog with his disabled partner who is in a wheelchair and was expecting a new carer to visit that day.
The former hospital and catering lecturer claimed he had checked on the dog during the meeting and it had toys in the boot.
His lawyer Andrea Woods said: ‘The defendant suffers from anxiety and depression and has brought with him letters from his GP and neighbours have corroborated with what he says about his love and care for animals and the community.
‘He undertakes charity work and he took this dog as a rescue dog.
‘The gentleman who made the complaint about him had expressed homophobic comments towards Mr Kent and his partner and has been complained about by Mr Kent for this.
‘Three complaints were made by him during the course of two hours, he lives opposite and knew where Mr Kent was, he could have alerted Mr Kent if he had genuine concerns.
‘He loves the dog.’
Kent and Mr Jehan are secretary and chairman respectively of the Chelford Together residents group, which was awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2015, the highest accolade for local volunteer groups.
