Dog dies after being locked in car on Hilton Head for hours

SOUTH CAROLINA -- A dog has died after being locked in a parked car for several hours on Hilton Head Island.

Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office responded at approximately 11:20 a.m. to the Circle Center on Pope Avenue to a report of an animal complaint.

Upon meeting with the complainant, the responding deputy  was advised there was a dog locked inside of an unattended vehicle in the parking lot.  He proceeded to the vehicle and observed the dog to  be slumped over the seat and locked inside with the windows completely up.

Owner of Hilton Head dog that died in overheated car.

The deputy took action and unlocked the vehicle with issued entry tools.  Observing the situation, a concerned citizen quickly offered to take the dog to the nearest veterinarian, so the deputy could continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Shortly thereafter, the concerned citizen contacted the deputy and advised resuscitation efforts had been unsuccessful and the dog had died at the veterinarian’s office.  The owner of the vehicle and dog was not at the scene, but was later located and identified as 55-year-old Bonnie Hinnant.

According to officials, Hinnant left her dog in the car at approximately 7 a.m. — several hours prior to being discovered by the complainant.  As result of the findings, she was charged with cruelty to animals and is scheduled to appear before the Hilton Head Municipal Court on June 18.

(WJCL - May 13, 2015)