Jul 17, 2008 10:11 pm US/Eastern
Dog Left In Car Dies From Heat Exhaustion
WATERTOWN (WBZ) ―
A French bulldog died of heat exhaustion after it was left in a stifling parked car for a half hour outside the Watertown Mall Thursday afternoon, the Watertown Tab & Press reported.
According to the online newspaper, Watertown police were called to the parking lot around 12:42 p.m. and found the unconscious dog inside the car.
The 3-year-old French bulldog was taken to the Watertown Animal Hospital but doctors were unable to save it.
Police are investigating and it's unknown whether the owner will be cited or charged in the incident.
Experts say it only takes minutes for a dog to succumb to heatstroke and suffocation when left in a hot car. Temperatures were around 80 degrees in the Boston area at noontime Thursday.
Experts say on a 78 degree day, temperatures in a car parked in the sun can hit a scorching 160 degrees.
Children and pets should not be left in a parked car if temperatures are 60 degrees or higher.
Learn more about the dangers of leaving pets in parked cars
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