Dogs Left In Hot Vehicle In Chantilly: Police

CHANTILLY, VA — Two dogs suffered dehydration after being left inside a van Friday afternoon in the 4300 block of Chantilly Shopping Center, according to Fairfax County Police. When police arrived, the temperature inside the van was more than 100 degrees. Michael Norman, 73, of Union, W. Va., was issued a summons for animal cruelty.

Shortly before 3 p.m., police responded to the scene and found a beagle/cattle mixed breed dog and a Chow mixed breek dog inside a 2004 Chevrolet Express. The dogs were removed from the van and taken to a local vet for treatment.

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Authorities have tips and warnings about leaving pets (or small children, for that matter) inside vehicles during hot weather:

NEVER EVER leave a child or pet unattended in a parked vehicle.

• Heatstroke is the leading cause of passenger vehicle non-crash related fatalities for children 14 and younger.
• A child’s temperature heats up 3 to 5 times faster than that of an adult.
• In 10 minutes a car can heat up 20 degrees. Rolling down a window does little to keep it cool.
• Heatstroke can occur in temperatures as low as 57 degrees.
• Heatstroke fatalities have occurred even in vehicles parked in shaded areas and when the air
temperatures were 80 degrees or less.
• Many pets can't sweat the way humans do, meaning they can't cool down.

Additional information: SafeCar.gov and HumaneSociety.org

Photo: Shutterstock