Pet Owner Issued Citation After Leaving Dogs in Hot Car at Stoneridge Shopping Center: Police

PLEASANTON, CA — Police officials issued a citation to a woman who allegedly left her dogs locked inside her car while she shopped at the Stoneridge Shopping Center this week. Although the car was parked under the shaded parking garage, police officials say the temperature inside the vehicle was between 96 to 100 degrees.

“It was 100 outside and the dogs had been left in car with windows cracked for over 35 minutes that we knew of,” Pleasanton Police Animal Control Officer Frankie Blavet said. “We attempted entry twice through the cracked window and were going to have to break the window to fully remove them when we were able to remove a collar from one of the dogs and call the number listed on the dog tag.”

The owner responded and was issued a citation.

Police strongly urge pet owners to leave animals at home whenever possible to avoid putting them in a dangerous and illegal situation. According to Blavet, some people coming from other areas do not realize hot hot it can get in Pleasanton. She says car temperatures can climb 20 to 30 degrees in 30 minutes.

“I have had cases where it has been over 126 degrees inside a vehicle when the outside temperature hovered around 78-80 degrees,” Blavet said.

Pet owners can be cited for both a penal code violation and a municipal violation for leaving their animals in their cars.

“Most owners are remorseful once I show them the videos I have taken of their dogs panting in their cars, attempting to take cover in the shade,” Blavet said. “ I also take our thermal temperature reader and show them exactly how hot it is inside their vehicle.”

Blavet said so far this year, two dogs have had to be treated for heatstroke after being left in a hot car for far too long and seven have been rescued. Dublin Police officials say they have also responded to multiple reports of dogs left in hot cars.

“Both dogs made a full recovery due to our quick response,” Blavet said.

Blavet has found dogs in cars at the mall, gyms, grocery stores, business parks and even the fairgrounds.

Experts urge residents to call the police whenever they see a pet in a car, compromised or not, so police can check to make sure they are not in distress. Signs of heatstroke in dogs, according to msnbc.com, include excessive panting or drooling, very fast breathing, a dark or bright red tongue or gums, staggering, or bloody diarrhea or vomiting.

“This is a very serious situation that we as an agency take very seriously,” Blavet said. “Not only can your pet lose its life, you can also be issued citations some of which carry a penalty of up to six months in county jail and a steep fine.”

This video shows how it might feel to your pet in a hot car.

Find additional information about pets in hot cars here.

Patch Editor Carrie Jacobson contributed to this report.

File photo Patch archive