It’s hard to believe in this day and age; with everything we know about the severe effects, people still leave their dogs in hot cars. Even on cloudy days, locked cars can heat up to extreme temperatures fast. On a 75 degree day, temperatures inside the vehicle can reach 120 degrees in just 30 minutes.
When Sarasota Police officers responded to a call about a dog left in a parked car, they knew the stakes. Dogs are very sensitive to heat, and heatstroke can set in if their temperature reaches 105 degrees. This is a life-threatening situation for a dog to be in, and they can become seriously ill and even die in a matter of minutes.
Officers And Animal Services Act Fast
Body cam footage from one of the officers on the scene shows the amazing rescue they performed. Peering into the car window, one officer notes: “He looks a little angry.” Another responds: “I would be too.” Knowing how to handle this exact situation, officers prepared to break in the back window.
Sergeant Louis Buck with the Sarasota Police Department told WTVT he saw the poor, overheated pup trying to find the shadiest place in the car. He distracted the dog, so someone could break a window on the other side without hurting him.
“I knew it was down underneath the steering wheel trying to get into some shade, trying to distract him and get his attention away from what was going to happen.”
With the window broken, an officer was able to reach in and unlock the door. By the time they got the door open, police determined the car’s temperature had reached 115 degrees. If not for the concerned reports and their rescue efforts, this dog could have died from the heat.
Sarasota Police Department Public Information Officer Genevieve Judge told Newsweek:
“We’re grateful someone noticed this dog was in distress and called 911. When our Officer and Sergeant arrived, the windows were extremely hot and we knew the dog needed help immediately.”
The owner of the car was later issued two citations by Animal Services. He said that he left the car running, which was not the case.
Fortunately, the dog is okay and received care and attention after he got out of the car. You can watch the body cam footage of the rescue here. And PLEASE – never leave your dog in a locked car!
H/T: Newsweek
Featured Image: @SarasotaPoliceDepartment/Facebook
