Animal control allowed pup to be left in hot car for 2 hours

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An animal control officer who was called out to a mall parking lot in Durham, North Carolina, found a pup locked inside of a hot car – according to the officer’s probe, it was 117-degrees inside of the black SUV. Despite the sweltering heat, the animal control officer determined that the puppy locked inside of the vehicle was not in distress and the young dog was left inside of the SUV for two hours, while his owner continued to shop inside of the Southpoint Mall, reported ABC 11 News.

Good Samaritan Jennifer Miller was in the parking lot watching the animal control officer “monitor” the situation from the comfort of his air-conditioned vehicle. She and a friend tried to help the pup by dropping ice cubes through a cracked window – despite the animal control officer’s apparent displeasure that they were doing so.

Eventually, the owner returned to the car, and the pup – though the individual was advised to take the pit bull puppy to a veterinarian for an exam, there was no other ramifications for leaving the young dog inside of the car for over two hours on a hot afternoon.

Miller documented the situation with photos and then posted them on Facebook – it did not take long for the Durham County Sheriff’s Office to be inundated by angry people who were stunned about what happened. Shortly after seeing the outpouring of concern from people, the sheriff’s office announced a change of policy for dogs found inside of parked cars:

Effective immediately, the deputies responding to calls for animals left in unattended vehicles will continue to assess whether the pet is in distress and make every attempt to locate the pet’s owner in accordance with North Carolina law. However, Durham County deputies are no longer required to wait for visible signs of distress. Under the revised policy, deputies will document the interior and exterior temperatures of a vehicle at least twice. The deputy will use his or her discretion in determining whether the animal should be removed from the vehicle. If the animal is removed, the deputy will decide whether to return the pet to its owner or pursue criminal charges after taking the animal to the local shelter.”

The Durham County Sheriff’s Office is still fielding negative feedback from individuals who are posting on their Facebook page – the response to angry comments is a simple, “Thanks for your feedback. Have a great day!”Screenshot (884)

(Photos screenshots via ABC 11 News)


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10 COMMENTS

  1. Elderly fired immediately how the hell do you leave a dog in a car at a hundred plus degrees are you stupid fire him Fire and Fire and or better yet close the f****** window some women f****** truck for a day and see if he lasts

  2. Now there is a UPSTANDING Animal Control officer, really doing his job NOT! What kind of moron sits there for 2 hours “monitoring” the situation and doesn’t do something for an animal locked in a car that is registering 117 degrees inside the car? I don’t blame the citizens for being incensed!

  3. if the dog has a window space.its ok.has long has the dog has a shaded place to rest in the car.but what say the dog went to the vet after like the cop told the owner?plus all cops need to go learn animals behavior classes.because puppies can die faster in a car then a bigger dog.plus the people did the best they could bye trying to put ice in for the dog to lick and help make surepuppy was not lacking something to lick or drink in the car.

    • Even with the windows left open a little, the inside of a vehicle can get very hot VERY fast. Sit inside your car in the sun with the vehicle off and the windows down about an inch or so. See how fast YOU need to open the door and get out. Even parking the vehicle in the shade doesn’t guarantee that the vehicle won’t reach a deadly temperature inside.

  4. Sounds a lot like ass covering and not about animal safety.As soon as 10* hotter inside a car than outside removal should be considered.If people would use spare key to lock doors they could leave car running with ac on and avoid any threat of heat stroke.I only take my dogs if I am not shopping-PERIOD.Laws should change to never leave pets in cars alone ever!

  5. By the time the animal shows signs of distress, it can already be too late. Damage to the dog or cat’s system is done, and in some cases, the animal will die. For one thing, the term “distress” can mean different things to different people. The idiot who failed to act in the best interest of the dog needs to be fired, or at the very least sent to some serious training regarding dealing with animals on their job. The owners or the vehicle (and the dog – although I prefer to think of myself as my furbabies parent or guardian) need to be given a fine. They didn’t get any repercussions over this – they may do it again. Make them pay, and they’ll think twice before leaving the dog again.

  6. This animal control officer would rather “sit on his ass instead of getting his ass in gear and helping the poor animal””” My God 117 inside!!! stand that worthless class act in a sauna for 2 hours at that temp!!!!

  7. Monitor the situation for what?? The dog to die?! What the hell are you people thinking? If animal control officers stand by to watch such a horrific situation how in the world do you expect people to not do that?? No animal deserves such disregard. It is cruel and heartbreaking what that beautiful pup had to endure because of two stupid humans, the owner and officer. Shame on the both of them. To even have to discuss what the right action should be is insane. Break the damn window and not allow the owner the right to ever see the dog again! That is how one should react. Not stand around monitoring or leaving it up to personal judgement. What holds true for leaving a child in a hot car should be the same when it comes to animals. To think anything else makes no sense and is extremely cruel. This makes me sick.

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