It’s summer, and with temperatures high it’s important to be alert about pets left in hot cars. Dogs are very susceptible to heat stroke and can die if left alone in a car for too long.
Sadly, too many people still leave their pets to suffer in hot cars every year: according to PETA, there have been 30 hot car deaths in 2021 alone.
Thankfully, disaster was averted this week after a bystander found a dog left in a hot car and called authorities before it was too late.
The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, in Florida, received an anonymous call on Sunday from a citizen at the Melbourne Square Mall, reporting that a 10-month-old puppy was found alone in a parked car.
According to FOX 13, the engine was off and the windows were closed, leaving this puppy in serious danger.
Officer Steve Anderson arrived and removed the puppy from the car. The pup was reportedly crying in pain and in dire health. The temperature in the car had reached over 100 degrees.
Sheriff Wayne Ivey says the puppy was “near death,” and the officers got there just in time to save the pup’s life before it was too late.
“If not for the life-saving efforts of the anonymous citizen who called us and the actions of Steve Anderson, our animal enforcement officer, this puppy would have died,” Ivey said in a press conference.
The officer took the puppy into an air-conditioned police vehicle to cool down before bringing it over to animal control.
And the Sheriff’s Office also arrested two suspects, Mecaila Page Johnson and Brandon Mclaren, on felony animal cruelty charges.
According to Ivey, the couple left the dog in the car while shopping at the mall, and didn’t return until a half hour after the rescue. It’s safe to say that, without intervention, the dog would’ve died.
But thankfully, the puppy is now in good hands and is expected to make a full recovery.
We’re so glad this dog is safe. It’s a reminder to never leave your dog alone in a hot car, and to be vigilant about those who do. Taking action can mean the difference between life and death.
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