Dog Left In Sweltering Car Rescued In Livermore

LIVERMORE, CA — Livermore police broke open a car window to rescue a dog locked inside on a 101-degree day, according to the Livermore Police Department.

Last Thursday, p0lice received a report that the dog was inside a Jeep with locked doors and closed windows in the Costco parking lot. Officers arrived to find the dog heavily panting. A temperature reading revealed the inside of the car was anywhere from 112 to 131 degrees. Officers later estimated the dog was inside the car for at least an hour.

Officers broke the window to free the dog, then took the dog to the vet, where he was determined to be fine.

“If we would have left this dog inside the car any further, it could have possibly led to death,” said Livermore Police Animal Services Officer Kevin Leon. “We don’t want to get to that point of having to retrieve a deceased animal because someone was neglectful.”

The owner was charged a $100 fine, the first-time penalty in California for leaving a pet unattended in a vehicle. If the animal suffers serious bodily injury, owners can be convicted of a misdemeanor, and spend up to six months in jail in addition to hefty court fees.

The owner must also pay for vet fees, shelter fees, and the cost to repair their car window.