A dog rescued from a parked car in a New Hampshire Walmart parking lot survived a terrifying brush with death after the temperature inside the vehicle rose to 114 degrees.
The dog's owner, a woman from Vermont, was charged with animal cruelty, police said.
What happened?
According to WMTW, Conway police were called after someone reported a dog alone in a vehicle in the Walmart lot with all of the windows shut.
When an animal control officer checked the car, the engine was off, and the temperature inside had reached a dangerous level.
Police then had an officer enter the vehicle and remove the dog after deciding the animal faced an urgent threat. By the time it was taken from the car, the dog was already showing signs of heat stroke, police said.
At Conway Veterinary Hospital, staff recorded the dog's core temperature at 107.5 degrees; police said that level was severe, potentially life-threatening, and capable of causing organ failure.
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Because the situation remained so serious, the dog was transferred to Maine Veterinary Medical Center in Scarborough, Maine, for more advanced care.
About 45 minutes after the initial report, police said they had identified the owner as Nicole Oleson, 38, of Burlington, Vt., who was arrested and charged with animal cruelty.
Police expect the dog to make a full recovery.
Why is it important?
When a car's engine is off, even a short errand does not eliminate the risk. Once temperatures begin to rise, the air inside a sealed car can become deadly within minutes.
Heat stroke in animals can cause organ damage, collapse, and death if treatment is not provided quickly.
What can I do?
Do not leave a pet in a parked car, even for a quick stop.
If an errand takes you somewhere animals cannot safely go inside, the safest choice is to leave them at home.
If you need to travel with a pet, plan for pet-friendly stops, bring water, and avoid situations in which the animal could be left unattended in a vehicle.
Options such as curbside pickup or changing the order of errands can help prevent dangerous situations.
If you see a pet trapped in a hot car, call 911, local police, or animal control right away, and be ready to share the vehicle's location and description.
Waiting for the owner to return can waste critical minutes.
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