Q. I was shopping recently on a very warm day when I parked my car - and spotted a dog locked in the car next to mine. It must have been at least 20 degrees hotter in the car than it was outside! He was clearly suffering, and I've heard leaving a pet in a closed car on a hot day can be deadly, so I flagged down a policeman - but he said he couldn't break into the car! Thankfully, the owner came back, and the dog seemed okay after a drink of water. But I was appalled that the policeman wouldn't do anything to help. What can I do if this happens again?
A. Each year, hundreds of pets get life-threatening heatstroke. The number one cause? Being left in a hot car, according to the World Kennel Club. And it's no wonder: on a warm day, the temperature inside a sealed car can rise to 150 degrees Fahrenheit! Fortunately, you CAN get a pet in distress freed. Here's what to do if you spot one inside a locked car on a hot day:
Step 1: Jot down the license number and head to the nearest store. Go to customer service or a manager and ask them to make an announcement ("There's a collie in distress..." or have them read the license plate asking the owner of car to please come to service desk) over the PA system; if you're at a mall, ask the person at the information booth to do it. But if the owner doesn't run right to the booth or out to the car...
Step 2: Call the police and ask them to break into the car to save the animal. Many communities have a law making it illegal to leave an animal in an inadequately ventilated vehicle. And even if your area doesn't have such a law, keeping an animal confined in such conditions is considered "animal neglect" - which is against the law anywhere. So the officer who responds to your call should be willing to do whatever it takes to get the animal out of the car. Still, many officers may not know how to proceed in these cases. If he hesitates and says he can't break into the car without obtaining a warrant...
Step 3: Get backup. First, remind the officer that animal neglect is a crime and that the presence of the animal in the car is evidence of a crime in progress (which should void any need for a warrant). If he still won't break in, call his supervisor at the station and explain the situation. Ask that the officer be authorized to enter the vehicle to save the animal. If you're still meeting with resistance, call the state police. Your local Society for the Prevention of Animals or Humane Society has more clout than you do and should also be able to intervene.
Tatyana D. Olyphant,
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals