A pet owner was arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty after their dog was found in a hot car amid nearly 100-degree heat in San Jacinto, deputies said Tuesday.
The small pup, Boomer, was spotted by a passerby who noticed the dog yelping from inside a parked car Monday afternoon, Riverside County sheriff’s officials said in a Facebook post.
The bystander immediately went to check on Boomer, as the temperate outside was about 99 degrees at the time, officials said.
Deputies later determined the temperature inside the car reached 131 degrees.
After noticing the dog was distressed and not moving, officials say the person rescued Boomer from the vehicle and attempted life-saving measures. The Sheriff’s Department did not specify how the dog was freed from the car.
When deputies responded, they put Boomer in an air-conditioned patrol vehicle.
The dog’s owner was subsequently located and arrested.
Boomer has since been placed in the care of the Ramona Humane Society.
The Sheriff’s Department pleaded with people not to leave loved ones or pets in vehicles during the hot summer months.
“Temperatures inside a closed vehicle can reach more than 120°F within minutes, even with the windows partly opened on a cloudy day,” the post states. “Exposure to such high temperatures can quickly kill a person or pet. A body temperature of just 107°F may cause brain damage or death from heatstroke.”
Large animals and livestock must also be protected from scorching temperatures, especially since many don’t sweat and instead rely on moisture and shade to stay cool.
“Animals cannot explain their needs, so it is up to people to ensures that their needs are met, especially during periods of extreme or prolonged heat,” the department wrote.
