MASSACHUSETTS -- The death of two pet dogs in Wednesday’s scorching heat touched a nerve in Western Massachusetts.
It's a story 22News broke first on Wednesday night in Franklin County: two dogs died after their owners left them in a truck during record breaking high temperatures. Since Wednesday night, it’s remained the top story on WWLP.com, and sparked intensely emotional comments on our 22News Facebook page.
22News reporter Heidi Voight checked in to see if cruelty charges would be filed against the owner or owners. An investigator for the Massachusetts Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Law Enforcement division said they're aware of the case, but it's unclear whether the owners will be investigated yet.
The veterinarian who tried to save these dogs told 22News that the owner who rushed them in for treatment was “distraught,” and underestimated the dangers of leaving pets in the car, even with windows open and fresh water available.
In her work as director of the Thomas J. O'Connor Animal Adoption and Control Center, Pam Peebles has seen far too many similar cases, despite repeated heat warnings in the media. Peebles told 22News in many of these cases, the owners express grief and regret over their actions.
“I know the level of anger out there, and I know it's hard to swallow,” said Peebles, “but I know the two dogs that this happened to, it sounds like they had some very good owners.”
But however remorseful they may be, the owners of the two dogs who perished Wednesday may now face animal cruelty charges.
Animal cruelty is a felony in Massachusetts punishable by 5 years in prison and a $2500 fine if convicted, whether the act of cruelty was intentional or accidental.
According to the MPSCA investigator, due to privacy laws, veterinarians cannot legally give out any information identifying pet owners in these cases.
If animal doctors suspect cruelty, whether willful or accidental, they are expected (but not legally required) to report it to the MSPCA. Investigations are handled on a case by case basis and take into account the level of care provided to the animals preceding and during the incident in question.
It only takes a matter of minutes for temperatures inside a parked car to become fatal on a hot day. That's why the MSPCA says you shouldn't hesitate to contact your local animal control or police department if you see an animal left behind in a car.
“Any time temperatures reach over 70 degrees, your dogs, no animal can be in a car for any length of time,” said Peebles. “Leave them home. This is serious business, and often fatal business.”
(WWLP - June 22, 2012)