Police arrested a 47-year-old woman on an animal cruelty charge after firefighters rescued her dog from a parked car.
The incident occurred on Sunday. Here’s what happened, according to Hamden police spokesman Capt. Ronald Smith:
The woman, who lives in Hamden, had parked her car in the 2335 Dixwell Ave. parking lot and left the dog inside.
A “concerned citizen” notified police that a “small Bichon mix” canine was “panting excessively” inside a parked vehicle.
Officer Rachel Zinni went inside a “nearby supermarket,” where an announcement failed to summon the vehicle’s owner.
The fire department showed up to try to get inside the car. While the firefighters were working on it, the dog’s owner appeared “with a cart of groceries.”
Investigators concluded that the temperature had reached 120 degrees inside the vehicle and that the dog had been left inside for about 45 minutes.
Police released the woman on a written promise to appear in court on June 17 to answer to the cruelty to animals charge.
Capt. Smith issued the following animal safety advice:
• If the heat is extreme, the animal should NOT be left unattended.
• Park the vehicle in an area where there is shade.
• Use a screen to block the rays of the sun.
• Leave a bowl of water inside of the vehicle.
• Do not leave your animal unattended for more than 10 minutes.
If you observe an animal locked inside of a hot vehicle:
• Write down the make, model and license plate number of the vehicle.
• If there is a business nearby, attempt to locate and notify a store employee or security personnel.
• Contact your local police department or animal control division.