The dog was trapped inside a white car parked at Walmart on 770 Broadway on the morning of July 19. It’s distressed state — heavy panting and pacing back and forth — attracted half a dozen concerned citizens.
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| The Saugus Fire Department rescued a small white dog from a hot car parked at Walmart over the weekend. Firefighter Michael Barker (left) holds the dog while firefighter Robert Difulmeri gives a thumbs up. Courtesy Photo |
At about 11:27 a.m. the Good Samaritans flagged down Saugus firefighters who had responded to an elevator alarm at the shopping center. The firefighters quickly gained access to the car with a vehicle unlocking kit, freeing the panicked animal.
“We were able to open the door fairly rapidly and the dog actually ran and jumped into one of the guy’s arms,” said Fire Capt. Tom Nolan, who was at the scene. “Once he got out he was very happy.”
Nolan said a Walmart employee brought a cup of water to the dog, whose spirits improved after having a long drink.
The Fire Department contacted Saugus Police, who searched for the vehicle’s owner inside the store. After locating him in about 15 minutes, they returned the dog to him.
Police referred the case to the animal control officer, who will determine if the owner should be cited or fined, police said. Saugus Animal Control Officer Harold Young was unable to be reached for comment by press time.
According to Assistant Chief Ron Giorgetti, the Saugus Police Department receives an average of five or six calls a year regarding a pet locked in a vehicle. If the dog is in distress upon arrival police will notify the animal control officer, who then takes up the investigation.
Leaving any animal in a hot vehicle for even a short period of time can have dangerous consequences — just ask the Animal Rescue League of Boston.
“Usually we say even when it’s only 80 degrees outside, the inside of a car can heat up to more than 120 degrees in just a few minutes even with all the windows cracked,” said Ami Bowen, director of marketing and development for the Animal Rescue League of Boston.
To promote awareness of this serious issue, the League launched a campaign called “Too Hot for Spot” that emphasizes the importance of leaving a pet at home when it’s hot outside.
“Usually what happens is somebody will end up calling emergency services if they can’t find the owner and the Fire Department doesn’t wait around — they break right into a car,” Bowen said. “There’s a lot of good reasons to just leave your animal at home.”
Since animals don’t sweat the same way humans do, they aren’t able to cool themselves off as well. According to the League, leaving a pet in a hot car is the most common cause of potentially deadly heat stroke.
“It can have very deadly consequences,” Bowen said.
How to help a pet in a hot car
Take down the vehicle’s make, model and license plate number.
Ask nearby security guards or store managers to make an announcement to find the dog’s owner.
If the owner cannot be found, call the non-emergency number for a local police department or contact the animal control officer.
Be sure to let dispatchers know what time you'd arrived and found the dog. This will help law enforcement to determine whether the owner is lying or not about "only being inside a few minutes".
(Saugus Advertiser - July 22, 2015)
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