GNU Free Doc V-1.2 Author: Ildar Sagdejev  "Dog in a van"

Everyone knows that when you leave your house in the summer and get into your car or truck it is very hot. The seats are hot, the dash is hot, the steering wheel is hot and the air is just plain hot. You all reading this know and fully understand no one should leave a pet in a car while it is parked with the windows up or cracked open. You all know you should not do this and it can kill your pet. So why are people still doing this and looking at their poor dead pet and asking why? Leaving you pet in a vehicle for a minute to run into a convenient store or hours to go grocery shopping is in every way a bad situation. To be honest even leaving your pet in the vehicle during the winter is just as bad. The extreme cold can be bad to your pet’s health. Ok, back to the summer heat.

The air in a car or truck can reach 120 degrees in about 10 minutes. Now 10 minutes is not a long time. Think about this…you go into a convenient store. You look for something to drink, you need to go to the bathroom and you have to wait on someone for just a minute. Now it’s your turn. You come out get your drink; look at the candy or chips. Select one and go to the counter. Then you wait in line and your 3rd in line. By the time you get to the counter, pay for your stuff and get to the car or truck it could easily be 15-20 minutes. Your dog could be dead or suffering from major heat stroke. You just don’t think you will be in there that long but you easily could.
Now that you know what you are not to do with pets in cars, do you actually know what could happen to you if you did do this? Did you know it is against the law? Do you know what the laws are in these cases? Did you know there are degrees to this abuse? And yes, it is abuse. This is the way the law is written for the state of Georgia. Each county and city can elaborate on this but this is the main guideline to start from. This was taken from the ASPCA web site: http://www.aspca.org/fight-animal-cruelty/lobby-for-animals/state-animal-cruelty-laws/fight-animal-cruelty/lobby-for-animals/state-animal-cruelty-laws/georgia.html

(Crimes & Offenses Offenses Against Public Health & Morals) 16-12-4 Cruelty to animals 1968, amended 1992, 2000

• Summary: Willful neglect' = intentional withholding of food and water required by an animal to prevent its starvation or dehydration. Prohibits any act, omission or willful neglect that causes unjustifiable physical pain, suffering or death to any animal. Prohibits aggravated cruelty: knowingly and maliciously causing the death or physical harm to an animal by rendering a part of such animal's body useless or by causing serious disfigurement.
• Penalty: 1st Offense: Misdemeanor, maximum one year confinement and/or maximum $1,000 fine. 2nd or Subsequent: Maximum one year confinement and/or maximum $5,000 fine; if 2nd or subsequent offense results in death of an animal confinement for 3-12 months and/or fine maximum $10,000 which will not be suspended, probated, or withheld.
• ***** Aggravated cruelty: Confinement for 1-5 yrs and/or $15,000 fine 2nd or Subsequent: 1-5 years confinement and/or fine maximum $100,000 (17-10-8) Psych. evaluation may be ordered prior to sentencing, and sentencing judge must consider entire criminal record of offender. Conviction includes pleas of guilty, nolo contendere, and probation as a 1st offender.

Now knowing that this is a serious offense, please take note when you see this happening. Please take your cell phone out and call the local police department. They will either handle these cases of provide you with the number for the Animal Control Police Department. Some Police departments have this division and other smaller cities you would just call the police department and they would handle it. You would let them know where the vehicle is and what the pet is that is in the vehicle. Let them know what the make, model and color of the vehicle is as well as the tag number. If you have a camera phone take a picture of it. All sides of the car and such. This way if you are needed for court you have evidence. Don’t worry you could stay anonymous but it helps the case if your not. Just remember pets do not have a voice that can be heard, so they rely on us to do it for them. Help them be heard.

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