German Shepherd Dies After Being Left Inside Truck With Windows Rolled Up; Owner Arrested In Belmont
BELMONT (CBS SF) - A 50-year-old transient has been arrested for animal cruelty after his dog died inside his truck at a motel parking lot.
On Monday, Belmont Police responded to a call of a dog in distress on the 1100 block of Shoreway Rd. Officers found "Elisha," an unresponsive 8-year-old German Shepherd in distress, inside the cab of a black 2011 Toyota pick-up truck. The dog had been left in the truck with the windows rolled up and without water, according to Belmont police.
San Mateo County Animal Rescue & Control team, from the Peninsula Humane Society, was called immediately and responded to the scene. In spite of their efforts, Elisha died en route to an veterinary emergency clinic.
Elisha's owner, Joseph Regis Jr., was contacted in a motel room by officers. Regis, who was asleep when officers came knocking, told officers he had last checked on Elisha at 3:00 a.m. Regis was arrested without incident and was booked into the San Mateo County Jail in Redwood City on a charge of felony animal cruelty.
The Peninsula Humane Society says that, when it's 80 degrees outside, a car can heat up to over 120 degrees in just minutes.
