A 9-week-old puppy has recovered after being rescued from a hot car parked outside Capital Mall last week.
The Olympia Police Department shared the puppy's story in a Tuesday Facebook post and reminded the public of the dangers of leaving pets in vehicles. The post included an image of an officer holding the puppy with black, curly hair.
Multiple people reported seeing the puppy in a Jeep near Dick's Sporting Goods at around 3 p.m. Aug. 4, Lt. Paul Lower told The Olympian.
In response to complaints, Lower said mall security personnel broke open a window of the vehicle and called Olympia police to the scene. The puppy reportedly wore a dog sweater, had no access to water and appeared to be in distress while in the vehicle.
A responding officer noted in a police report that they felt hot air rolling out of the vehicle as they approached, Lower said. Officers reportedly removed the puppy from the vehicle and took them to an emergency vet clinic in Lacey.
The puppy recovered and was eventually released to Joint Animal Services for "additional investigation," according to the OPD Facebook post. Lower said the owner of the puppy later called dispatch and was connected with Joint Animal Services.
Sarah Hock, executive director of Joint Animal Services, confirmed the puppy was reunited with its owner after receiving an exam from a veterinarian.
Lower said police are not interested in pursuing charges at this point and merely wanted to save the puppy.
It's a civil infraction to "leave or confine any animal unattended in a motor vehicle or enclosed space where it could be harmed or killed by exposure to excessive heat, cold, lack of ventilation or lack of necessary water," according to Washington state law.
Here's what to do if you see an animal trapped in a car
If someone suspects an animal is suffering in an enclosed vehicle, Hock said they should call law enforcement and animal control.
"We suggest contacting both agencies because of the nature of the issue and its time sensitivity," Hock said. "Both (Law Enforcement) and (Animal Control Officers) want to ensure we can respond in a timely manner. We also recommend that you document the temperature and condition of the animal."
A law enforcement or animal control officer cannot be held liable for any property damage that results from freeing an animal from a vehicle or enclosed space, according to state law.
A good Samaritan currently does not have the same liability protections under state law, Hock said.
People and animals in hot cars can experience heatstroke. This occurs when a body cannot lose heat as fast it generates it, Hock said.
"It can be life-threatening and cause internal organ damage, so it requires immediate treatment," Hock said.
Hock said the signs of heatstroke in animals include excessive panting and drooling, vomiting, rapid or difficult breathing, lethargy, lack of coordination, deep red or purple tongue or gums, and unconsciousness or collapse.
Cars can heat up quickly even on a mildly warm day. The temperature inside a vehicle can rise 20 degrees in about 10 minutes and 50 degrees in an hour when outside temperatures are in the 70s, according to the National Weather Service.
Multiple witnesses alleged the puppy at Capital Mall had been left in the Jeep for over an hour, Lower said. The maximum temperature for the Olympia area that day was 86 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
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