Dog left in Qld car on scorching day dies

A dog has died after allegedly being left in a scorching car by a man who attended a far north Queensland court.

Two dogs, a male and female, were found distressed by members of the public as temperatures soared into the mid-30s in Cairns on Wednesday.

Police say their rescue efforts were hampered when one of the dogs acted aggressively.

But officers managed to give the animals water through a small window opening before local council officers arrived.

Both dogs were taken to a vet surgery for treatment but the male was euthanised due to heat exhaustion.

RSPCA Queensland spokesman Michael Beatty said temperatures inside the car would have likely hit 50C within 15 minutes.

He said a closed car could be dangerous even with a window down.

"Just don't do it (leave dogs in cars)," he told AAP.

"Heat stress isn't a pleasant way to die, at all."

A 60-year-old man was charged with two counts of animal cruelty and will appear in Cairns Magistrate Court on January 22.