Dog Locked In Hot Vehicle: Fairfax Police

FAIRFAX, VA — A dog was left locked in a car Saturday with no ventilation or water in a parking lot in the 4000 block of Jermantown Road, according to Fairfax Police. The owner of the dog, Grace O. Koo, 64, of the 10800 block of Paynes Church Drive, was issued a summons for failure to provide adequate shelter, food or water for the dog.

Shortly before 11 a.m., police responded to the scene for a report of a distressed dog in a vehicle. After arriving, they confirmed the aforementioned conditions. Officers managed to get into the locked vehicle to provide relief for the dog.

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Especially with temperatures on the rise this time of the year, it's wise to be extra careful when to comes to vehicles and pets — not to mention young children. Fairfax Police offer tips and precautions:

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