In a video posted to Facebook, officers with the Sarasota Police Department were seen surrounding a car near University Parkway in response to a “a dog locked inside a car that was turned off.”
One of the officers can be seen telling a member of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office Animal Services division that the dog in the car is a pit-bull and can be seen panting due to the extreme heat. The officer can then be heard saying that police have been unable to identify whose car it is and all the doors are locked.
As the video continues, one officer can be seen walking to one side of the car to distract the dog locked inside, while another attempts to break the rear window on the opposite side. After just three hits with what appears to be a police baton, the window breaks open.
After breaking the window, the officers are then able to unlock the rear door and a member of the sheriff’s animal services division safely removes the dog from the car.
Shortly after the dog was removed from the car, the member of the Animal Services division can be seen looking into the car and saying that the temperature had reached 115 degrees Fahrenheit inside even after officers were able to break the window and open the door.
“Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office Animal Services told us it was 115° inside the car!” wrote the Sarasota Police Department in the Facebook post. “The owner said he left the car running. He was issued two citations by Animal Services.”
The post added, “Always remember to look before you lock for pets, children and elderly loved ones.”
While speaking with WTVT in Tampa Bay, Sergeant Louis Buck with the Sarasota Police Department said that after touching the car he noticed that the windows were very hot and noticed the dog trying to find shade inside the car.
“I knew it was down underneath the steering wheel trying to get into some shade, trying to distract him and get his attention away from what was going to happen,” Buck told WTVT.
Buck also stated that if officers didn’t rescue the dog when they did, the outcome could have been fairly different due to the extreme heat.
“It feels good to know that you kind of helped him out,” said Buck, according to WTVT.
In an email sent to Newsweek, Sarasota Police Department Public Information Officer Genevieve Judge wrote, “We’re grateful someone noticed this dog was in distress and called 911. When our Officer and Sergeant arrived, the windows were extremely hot and we knew the dog needed help immediately.”
“We’re thankful we were able to rescue the dog and make sure he received the proper care he needed,” the email added.
Updated May 17, 2021, 10:10 a.m. ET, to include a statement from a spokesperson for the Sarasota Police Department.
