Owner charged after dogs rescued from car

A dog owner has been charged after allegedly leaving five dogs in a vehicle for more than a half hour in 30-degree heat.

Summerside police said they were called to a local store on July 21 around 3 p.m.

They observed five dogs locked in a vehicle that was not running. The dogs had no water and the vehicle’s windows were down only marginally.

The dog owner was located and charged under the new Animal Welfare Act. The legislation came into effect about a month ago, and police say this is one of the first charges laid under the new Act.

The legislation states: “No person shall cause or permit an animal to be subjected to conditions, that, unless immediately alleviated, will cause the animal serious harm or death.”

The fine for a first offense is $500.

Police did not have to forcibly enter the vehicle to get the dogs out. The owner was found in short order and unlocked the car.

The dogs were immediately provided with water, cooled off and did not suffer prolonged distress.

Police are reminding pet owners not to leave their pets in vehicles unattended, especially on hot days. The temperature inside a parked car can soar and leaving the windows down an inch does not protect pets.

“If you’re going shopping, leave your pet at home,” police said in a release.