SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 23, 2020 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- As the
Sacramento region heads into an extremely hot week, one local animal
welfare organization is taking action to help animals left in hot cars. The
Sacramento SPCA is providing thermometers to all animal control officers in
Sacramento County in an effort to prevent animals from suffering and dying
in hot cars and to hold those who caused this suffering accountable.
Each year police and animals control officers in our community respond to
hundreds of calls about animals - most often dogs - left in hot cars. These
are reported by Good Samaritans who hear the animals crying for help or, in
the worst cases, notice an animal that has passed out or stopped breathing.
California law now allows these Good Samaritans to break into the vehicle
under certain circumstances.
"We need the community to know that there are consequences to leaving an
animal in a car - no matter the reason," said Kenn Altine, CEO of the
Sacramento SPCA. "The consequences for the animal are horrific," he said,
"but too often the person is not held accountable."
Altine said the thermometers, which are certified tested and calibrated,
will allow the animal control officers to accurately capture the ambient
air temperature in the vehicle as part of their evidence collection.
"By having a reliable and accurate recording of the temperature using a
certified thermometer, we can better hold the people accountable for their
actions," said Sacramento County DDA Hilary Bagley-Franzoia. The Sacramento
County District Attorney handles cases of animals left in cars.
They've already had several cases this year, including an animal who was
left in a car where the temperature reached 130 degrees, causing the animal
to have seizures, neuropathy and to bleed through its skin and paws.
Forty-five minutes after the animal was freed from the car, its internal
temperature was still 108 degrees (normal body temperature for dogs and
cats is 101 to 102.5 degrees).
About the Sacramento SPCA:
Founded in 1892, the Sacramento SPCA has been providing homeless animals
with individual comfort, shelter, and love for more than 128 years. They
provide compassionate medical care to tens of thousands of animals annually
and offer a variety of programs and services designed to keep people and
pets together for life.
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