To the editor:

Walking through a parking lot last weekend, I heard a “yip, yip.” I knew, once again, it was going to be a summer of people leaving their dogs in hot cars.

I saw a large, friendly dog on a chain with windows barely cracked. If the dog was still in the car when I came out of the store, I would have to do something. I was in the store for 20 minutes. When I came out, the dog was still there. Fortunately, I found another caring woman was already phoning the police. She said the dog had been in the car for at least 45 minutes. Her son tried unsuccessfully to give the dog bottled water through the window. We waited until Animal Control arrived. They measured the temperature inside the car. We had the store page the owner, who eventually came out.

How much longer would he have been in the store? The officer explained the situation to him. I don’t think he was ticketed. I saw him get in the car, open the windows wider and turn on the AC. It was 85-plus degrees outside. It takes eight minutes for the temperature to reach 100 degrees in the car. How hot was it in the car after 45 minutes?

If you love your pets, please do not leave them in your cars. If you love animals, take action if you see this situation.