NORTH PLATTE, NE -- A North Platte man faces up to 2 years in prison after leaving his pet dog inside his vehicle during an 80-degree day while taking care of personal business at Great Plains Regional Medical Center.
Ted Cook exited the hospital to find his dog in distress and contacted the North Platte Animal Shelter.
Animal Control Officer John Petit responded to the call and arrived to an unresponsive animal.
"We arrived to find the dog laying on the ground in distress," said Petit. "We rushed him to a local veterinarian and by the time we arrived the dog was already brain dead and died a short time later."
Petit said that Cook initially reported that he was only in the hospital for 5 minutes, but later said it was 15 minutes.
"The vet said it was likely more than that," said Petit. "The dog's body temperature wouldn't even register on the vet's thermometer, which maxes out at 120 degrees. It can get hot really quick inside a vehicle and it's important to know that if you go out on errands, don't take your dog with you."
(North Platte Telegraph - May 26, 2011)