A Clearwater woman was charged with animal cruelty this week after leaving her dog in a hot car for 40 minutes while she was at the beach, police said.
According to the Clearwater Police Department, which released body camera video of officers rescuing the dog (watch the full video below), the windows of the black SUV had been left open about 2 inches.
The outside air temperature at the time was 90 degrees and the car was parked in direct sunlight with no shade protection.
Water officers found in the car that had apparently been left for the dog was warm to the touch.
After breaking a window to get into the vehicle and rescue the dog, officers shared some cool water from a thermos with the pup, who was in much better spirits after the rescue.
The dog’s owner, Marie Rutherford, told police she was on the beach while her dog was in the car and that she though the dog would be OK because of the water she’d left. She had paid for more than two hours of parking.
Sherry Silk, CEO of the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, told WTVT that the water is nice, if it’s winter.
“Cracked windows don’t help,” Silk said. “Dogs can’t cool down, can’t pant enough. If you love your pets, leave them at home.”
Silk warned there is no safe amount of time to leave an animal in a car.