Two police officers in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, saved a distressed dog that was locked in a U-Haul truck in the hot Florida sun while its owners were at the beach. Body-camera footage was released showing the heavily panting pit bull trapped in the sweltering moving truck with only a cracked passenger side window as the temperature outside approached 90 degrees. A bystander alerted the police to the situation after noticing the pup locked in the vehicle with no water and no cover. The dog had been in the truck for nearly an hour before being reported to the authorities.
The two officers were kind to the abandoned dog, offering it water through the cracked window, speaking to it to calm it down, and even giving it a Slim Jim at one point. The pup was safely removed from the vehicle and taken to the Southeast Volusia Humane Society. Charging affidavits were sent to the State Attorney’s Office for both owners of the dog, although their names and potential charges were not released by the police department, who thanked the bystander for alerting them to the situation and reminded the public about the dangers of leaving animals or children in hot vehicles.
Leaving pets in parked vehicles is considered animal cruelty in Florida due to the potentially fatal consequences. Dogs trapped inside hot vehicles can suffer heat stroke in as little as 15 minutes, depending on the temperature outside and the age of the dog. The average internal temperature for a dog is around 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit, and they rely on panting to cool down since they do not have sweat glands all over their bodies like humans. Heatstroke occurs in dogs when their body temperature rises to 105 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, making it essential not to leave animals or children alone in parked vehicles, even for a short period.
The New Smyrna Beach Police Department shared a stern reminder with the public about the dangers of leaving pets or children alone in vehicles, emphasizing that it could be deadly. They commended the bystander who reported the situation so they could help the distressed dog in the U-Haul truck. Never leaving animals or children alone in vehicles for any duration is crucial to prevent heat stroke and other potential dangers. The police department also highlighted the fact that animal cruelty laws in Florida make leaving pets in hot vehicles a punishable offense, ensuring that those responsible are held accountable for their actions toward vulnerable animals.
