Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force Rescues Chihuahua from Inside a Hot Car
April 14, 2010-Late this morning the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force rescued a Chihuahua from inside a car parked in a lot at the Saint Louis Zoo. At the time of rescue the temperature inside the car had reached 105 degrees. Saint Louis Zoo personnel noticed the dog in distress and called the Humane Society of Missouri who in turn contacted the St. Louis Police. HSMO and the Saint Louis Police arrived on the scene and were able to successfully remove the dog. The pet was immediately brought to HSMO headquarters for treatment to cool down its body temperature and for observation. The dog is expected to survive. The Humane Society will recommend animal cruelty charges be brought against the owner.
"The diligence of Saint Louis Zoo personnel and the quick action of the St. Louis Police and our Animal Cruelty Task Force, saved this helpless dog from a horrible and painful death,” said Kathy Warnick, president of the Humane Society of Missouri. “Pets should never be left unattended in a parked car, especially when the outside temperature is above 70 degrees. The temperature inside a car can exceed 100 degrees in minutes. It is inhumane and illegal to harm an animal in this way.”
UPDATE-This afternoon HSMO Animal Cruelty Task Force received an anonymous
call concerning a cat that had been left in a car parked on the street in the
3400 block of Delmar. When the Animal Cruelty investigator arrived on the
scene, the temperature inside the car was 113 degrees. With the
assistance of the St. Louis Fire Department, the cat was removed from the car
and immediately brought to Humane Society headquarters for evaluation and
treatment. Investigators are attempting to contact the cat’s owner.
Again, the Humane Society of Missouri advises all pet owners
to be extremely vigilant with pets when the temperature exceeds 70
degrees. We encourage members of the public to watch out for pets in
parked cars and immediately notify our Animal Abuse Hotline if they see a pet
in distress.
To report an animal in heat-related jeopardy, please call the Humane Society of Missouri at (314) 647-4400.
