A desperate dog left inside a baking hot parked car managed to set off the alarm to attract attention.
A police officer smashed a window in the blue Chrysler car to free the dog which was in visible distress. It has subsequently recovered.
It had been left in the car on Exmouth sea front for at least an hour as temperatures reached 30C outside during the hottest part of the day.
The dog, which was muzzled and had not been left water, was yelping and barking to be let out of the car which was parked on the Esplanade, opposite Exmouth Pavilion.
Onlookers said the dog had been inside for about an hour.
A police spokesman said an officer was alerted at around 1.15pm following a call from the local dog warden.
"The dog was in distress inside the car and had managed to set off the car alarm.
"The officer managed to get some wet towels inside to cool it off but was unable to get it out of the car so smashed the window the free the dog.
"The owner turned up at around the same time and the RSPCA are being informed off the matter."
