Last week, police rescued a distressed dog from a hot car in Clearwater, Florida. The Pit Bull was panting and struggling to breathe in the heated vehicle. Now, the owner faces charges for leaving behind her pup in the heated car while she was at the beach.
Woman leaves dog in hot car to enjoy herself at Florida beach
On May 21, the Clearwater Police Department received a report of an animal in distress at the Clearwater Beach parking lot. They received the call in the afternoon as the vehicle was parked directly under the sun with no shade. Moreover, the windows were only opened by about two to three inches. It is important to note that this is not enough airflow for a canine and doesn’t help them much when the car starts heating up.
Furthermore, the temperature on Tuesday was as high as about 90 degrees, per Fox 13. The humidity was also high on that particular day. When the police arrived, the dog was sweating in the hot car. They also noted that the pup was panting and almost falling asleep. The police officers on site had to break open the vehicle to rescue the canine.
Officers promptly gave the dog some water after rescuing her from the hot car. The owner had left a small dish of water, but it was warm to the touch when the police examined it. According to Fox 17, the Pittie could have been in the vehicle for 30 to 40 minutes. The owner, Marie Rutherford from Nashville, Tennessee, had paid for two hours of parking. Rutherford has been arrested and faces animal cruelty charges.
After being rescued from the hot car, the dog was taken to a local vet for a thorough check-up. Since then, she has been moved to Pinellas County Animal Control for further observation and care. An owner should never leave their pet in a vehicle, even if the temperature is mild. Cars can heat up quickly, and despite popular belief, cracking open a window doesn’t help your furry companion much.
