A couple who left their dog to “cook to death” in their car asked the RSPCA if they had any puppies they could adopt on the very same day, a court heard.

Anne Patricia Naylor, 70, and husband Kenneth Raymond Naylor, 59, of Fairbank Terrace, Girlington, were eating at The Woolpack pub in Esholt while their pet Staffordshire Terrier Millie was left in their car on a baking hot July afternoon.

Yesterday the couple were banned from keeping animals for three years and each fined £150 after appearing at Bradford Magistrates’ Court.

They both pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal on July 7, a day where temperatures were close to 30 degrees celsius.

The court heard that despite The Woolpack being a dog- friendly pub – allowing pets in the pub and providing water for them outside – the Naylors decided to leave the seven year old dog in their car while they had Sunday dinner.

When they returned an hour later the animal was dead.

They drove to the Bradford office of the RSPCA where they revealed what had happened. According to staff they then asked if there were any puppies they could have – a claim the couple deny.

Nigel Monaghan, prosecuting, said: “It beggars belief that after this they can ask for a puppy from the RSPCA.”

Steven Kaye, defending, said: “They deny that they asked the question about getting another puppy. They say they have no intentions of getting another dog.”

RSPCA staff found the dog’s body tethered to a seatbelt in the back of the car. When a member of staff visited the pub to investigate two hours later, at around 3pm, they recorded the outside temperature as 28 degrees. The couple claimed to have left a back window open, parked in a shady area and left water in the car.

A statement from the vet who carried out the post mortem, Graham Roberts, was read to the court, saying when dogs are left in hot cars their body temperature rises quickly, heart rate increases and they can suffer from vomiting and diarrhoea.

It added: “The dog would develop heat stroke and would have undoubtedly suffered.

“It would have become more distressed as it attempted to cool itself. It must be one of the most unpleasant ways for a dog to die. A dog in a hot car is essentially cooked to death.”

In mitigation, Mr Kaye said the couple were of good character and had shown remorse after Millie’s death.

He added: “This is a very sad case. They loved this dog for many years and have to face the fact they are responsible for her death.

“They didn’t feel it was a particularly hot day.”

He said Mr Naylor had an inoperable brain tumour, and asked for that to be taken into account when sentencing.

As well as the fine, the couple have to pay the RSPCA £100 costs each.