Tourist crams poor pet dog in scorching locker to explore a castle

A dog was rescued from a scorching hot locker at an iconic tourist spot in Germany. The owner reportedly confined the pet in the small space, despite objections from other tourists. The alleged incident, confirmed on Sunday, happened at Neuschwanstein Castle, in southern Germany.

The castle, which is one of Germany's top tourist attractions, is renowned for its fairytale-like appearance and welcomes over 1.5 million tourists every year. The woman allegedly closed her pet inside the locker, which was already half-filled by a pram, on what was a hot summer's day. According to a police report from the nearby town of Fuessen, she then left the dog to explore the castle.

The police statement said: "The dog was forunately unharmed but visibly glad when it was rescued from the already hot locker."

It added that officers were deployed to the scene and took him back to the police station.

The dog's breed was not specified, however, it was stated it was of "medium size" and around 60cm tall at the shoulder. An officer on duty at Fuessen police station contacted by telephone said the dog was a mongrel.

Local authorities said they had started criminal proceedings against the owner on the suspicion of breaking Germany's animal welfare law.

Neuschwanstein Castle is nestled in the Alps in the very south of Germany near the border with Austria.

The beautiful palace dates back to the 19-century and was comissioned as a retreat for King Ludwig II of Bavaria, and also became the private residence for the king. Shortly after his death in 1886, it was opened to the public.

Today, the castle can be visited by a 35-minute guided tour, with special guided tours on specific topics. No phorography is allowed inside the caste.

During the attraction's peak season, between June and August, the castle welcomes as many as 6,000 visitors per day, and those without pre-booked reseverations typically have to wait several hours to get in.