A Woman Was Arrested on Charges of Animal Cruelty

 

A Woman Was Arrested on Charges of Animal Cruelty

A Nashville woman was arrested after Florida police rescued her dog from a hot car parked on the beach.

Mary Rutherford, 40, was arrested in Florida on animal cruelty charges after she left her dog inside a hot car on Clearwater Beach, where the outside temperature was about 90 degrees.

Clearwater police officers rescued the distressed pitbull from the car by smashing the front passenger window and allowing the dog to drink fresh water inside the car for 30 to 40 minutes.

Rutherford admitted to police that she assumed the dog would be fine in the car with water while she went to the beach, but the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals advises against leaving pets in cars due to the risk of heat stroke.

A Nashville woman was arrested in Florida on Tuesday after she left her dog inside a hot car while going to the beach.

Mary Rutherford, 40, was booked into the Pinellas County Jail on animal cruelty charges after her dog was rescued from a hot car in the Pier 60 parking lot in Clearwater Beach, FOX 13 Tampa Bay reported.

Clearwater Police officers responded to the parking lot around 4:45 p.m. Tuesday after someone reported an animal in distress, the outlet said.

Once they arrived at the car, which was parked in the sun when the outside temperature was about 90 degrees, the officers saw the pit bull sitting in the back seat.

Bodycam video of the rescue showed an officer smashing the car's front passenger window to open the doors. Another officer was seen caring for the dog before helping him out of the car and giving him fresh water.

Police said there was some water for the dog in the car, but it was warm and insufficient.

Police said the dog was inside the car for 30 to 40 minutes during the day when the temperature outside was about 90 degrees.

What should you do if you see a pet in a hot car?

According to an affidavit seen by FOX 13, Rutherford admitted to police that she was the dog's owner and said she assumed the dog would be okay while she was at the beach because she had left water in the car.

Clearwater Beach does not allow pets - except service animals - on the sand in the public bathing area, but leashed dogs are allowed on the North Beach section and along the beach promenade.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals advises against leaving pets inside a car for any period of time. Within 10 minutes, the temperature can reach 20 degrees higher than the outside temperature, which can cause fatal heat stroke.

The ASPCA also said that cracking windows does not prevent a car from overheating and recommends leaving pets at home if you are traveling to places that are not welcome.