Medford, Ore. — With temperatures heating up the Southern Oregon Humane Society is warning people not to leave their dogs in the car. Even if it is just for a few minutes.
“It’s simple. If you’re wearing short sleeves to go to work, don’t take your dog to work,” Southern Oregon Humane Society Kenn Altine said.
Altine said parked cars can be a death trap for man’s best friend. Even a car in the shade with the windows down can be too hot for a dog to handle.
“They’re sitting in a metal oven,” he said.
Not only is the dog in danger, but Medford Police Sargeant Brent Mak said the owner could be subject to animal cruelty charges, a class A misdemeanor. He saidif you see a dog in distress call police immediately.
“I know of one occassion where I think officers actually attempted to contact the owner but were unable to and had to break a window to get the animal out,” said Mak.
Because, after all, a broken car window can be replaced. A furry family member can not.
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