SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, June 5, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — A dog owner could be facing charges after a yellow lab left inside a vehicle for four hours Saturday died, officials said.
Callista Pearson of Salt Lake County Animal Services said the 15-month-old yellow lab was left inside a car in a parking lot behind a Sugar House area business in the area of 1100 E. 2100 South.
Pearson said the information Animal Services has is that the dog’s owner was inside a business in the area, and had last checked on the dog at 10 a.m.
At about 2 p.m., Animal Services responded to a call about an animal in a hot car. When officials arrived the dog was unresponsive.
Salt Lake City Police Department was called to the scene. An officer cut open the window of the soft-top vehicle and removed the yellow lab. The dog was then taken to a veterinary clinic, where it was pronounced dead.
Pearson said an investigation is underway, and the owner could be facing misdemeanor or even felony charges.
As a general rule, dogs should not be left in cars if it is more than 70 degrees outside, even in the shade, Pearson said. Inside a car, the temperature can climb to 100 degrees or hotter in a matter of minutes, she said.
Pearson said that anyone that sees a pet in a hot car at a store or in a parking lot should call that city’s animal control. If it is in Salt Lake County Animal Services’ jurisdiction, dispatch can be reached at 801-743-7045.
According to the Animal Services website, anyone who sees an animal in a hot car should take down the license plate number and alert the store manager.
“DO NOT break the window on your own,” the website said. “Let the authorities do this. During the summer months, animals in hot cars are a top priority call for animal services. Please plan on leaving your furry friend at home if you are running errands or going to a venue that is not intended for animals.”
people are incredibly stupid!