See a Dog Alone in a Car on a Hot Day? Don't Try to Free it Yourself

A woman who saw a dog left alone in a car in the parking lot at 470 Monroe Turnpike at around 11:43 a.m. on June 30 thought it was in distress on the hot day — and allegedly attempted to break into the vehicle to rescue the animal herself, according to police.

Monroe Animal Control Officer Ed Risko said the owner came back and the two women started arguing before a police officer broke it up.

The officer determined the dog was not in distress because the windows were open, so there was no violation, according to police. The dog owner was given a complaint advisory.

The woman who made the complaint was given a verbal warning for creating a public disturbance and tampering with a motor vehicle.

Risko said the dog was validly licensed in Shelton.

Though police determined the dog was safe in this instance, Risko said it can be extremely dangerous to leave a dog alone in a car on a hot day as the temperature gets significantly hotter inside the vehicle.

For more information, check out this past Monroe Patch article: Don't Make Hot Dogs in Your Car.

Similar Complaints

Police responded to several complaints of suspected animal cruelty on humid summer days lately.

On July 8, police received the report of a dog in a car at 435 Main Street, but were unable to locate the vehicle.

In another complaint made in the parking lot at 535 Monroe Turnpike on June 30, police determined a dog was not in distress because the windows were left open.

Also on June 30, police could not locate the vehicle in the parking lot at 470 Monroe Turnpike after hearing a complaint of a dog left alone inside.