Despite soaring temperatures, some still leaving dogs in closed, hot cars



BURIEN, Wash. -- If it’s hot outside, then it’s even hotter inside your car.  That’s the message from local animal control officers.

It’s a scenario that can be deadly for pets left in cars, yet authorities are responding to a growing number of cases.

“We have a couple different laser guns,” said animal control officer Alex Hughes from Burien C.A.R.E.S.

Hughes used his laser thermometer to illustrate how quickly temperatures can rise inside a parked vehicle.

“It looks like it’s gone up about 13 degrees in about 8-9 minutes,” he said.

Hughes said he’s responded to trapped animals inside cars at least six times in the past week alone.

“Never, ever, ever under any circumstances leave your dog in the car, especially if you don’t want your window broken and your dog impounded,” he said.

Hughes and Burien police rescued a dog last weekend after they said its owner left it inside her car for two hours and the temperature soared to 103 degrees.

“The owner has been cited under negligence and neglect laws as well as paying kenneling and other care fees,” said Hughes.

The pooch later went back to its owner; Hughes said the owner apologized repeatedly.

In a separate incident in Gig Harbor, a photo was taken of a white dog stuck inside a hot station wagon. They said the dog had been in the car for nearly an hour.

Starting in July, a new state law goes into effect that aims to protect police and animal control officers from being held liable if they have to smash out car windows to rescue a pet.