Puppy Left Inside Minivan As Vehicle Temperature Reached 104
RIVERSIDE (CBSLA.com) — A 3-month-old puppy, left unattended inside a sweltering minivan, was rescued Thursday outside a Walmart in Riverside.
The puppy, a poodle mix named Sheri, was examined at the Western Riverside Country/City Animal Shelter in Jurupa Valley, according to Riverside County's Department of Animal Services.
Authorities said the dog's temperature reached 103.7. Normal for a dog is about 102.5. According to Veterinary Technician Kelly Faustina, just another degree could be fatal for a dog.
Faustina lowered the dog's temperature with an IV (to hydrate the dog) and rubbed alcohol on her paws.
Sheri was stabilized and returned to her owner, a pregnant woman.
Since the dog did not die, the owner was cited ($121) for leaving a pet inside a car unattended.
KCAL9's Tom Wait reported the woman, who just got the dog Thursday, did not mean to leave the dog for 60 minutes.
"She sort of had an emergency situation in the bathroom," said John Welsh of Riverside Animal Control. "And what was going to be a short visit, it turned into an hour."
Wait reports both mother-to-be and puppy are both fine.
Officials said the woman's minivan's windows were cracked a little but Officer Will Luna said, "It was still too hot for that little dog."
"Leaving a pet inside a vehicle when we are going to be facing 100-degree days is inexcusable," said Dr. Allan Drusys, Riverside County's Chief Veterinarian. "But even when the temperature drops back to more reasonable patterns, we still advise against taking your pet along when you're doing your supermarket runs. It just doesn't take long for an animal to suffer in such hot conditions."
