Triple digits for the temps in Boulder City have been the norm, most of the summer, as we are all so acutely aware. So we were unpleasantly surprised today when we stopped at the grocery store and saw a little white ball of fur left in a locked car with the windows cracked. We thought it would be a good time to remind everyone of how serious heat can be in our autos, for pets (or heaven forbid a child!) left in a car without the engine and AC running.
- When running errands, DO leave your fur babies or children home whenever possible. We know – they want to go(!) but it really is best to just leave them at home during these next couple of months.
- If you see a child or pet in a car and in distress – DO call 911 immediately.
- DON’T break open the window of a parked car. Only public safety (fire and law enforcement) personnel are allowed to use reasonable means necessary to rescue a child or pet. Check that state regulation out HERE (NRS 202.482 and NRS 202.487).
- If in doubt about a situation, DO call the Boulder City Police Dispatch non-emergency line at (702) 293-9224, press 1 and report what you are seeing. They will react accordingly and quickly to the situation.
- Finally, consider this: Leaving a pet in a car is extremely dangerous and could lead to animal cruelty charges in Boulder City (City Code 7-3-9-F):
Transporting. It shall be unlawful for any person to carry or enclose, or cause to be carried or enclosed, in or upon any vehicle, device or otherwise, any animal in a cruel or inhumane manner, or so as to produce torture. For the purpose of this subsection, carrying an animal in a vehicle in such a way as to allow such animal to slide about, or to be thrown from such vehicle, due to inertia, momentum or centrifugal force, constitutes carrying in a cruel or inhumane manner. No person having control of a vehicle shall place or confine an animal or allow an animal to remain in such vehicle under such conditions or for such periods of time as may endanger the health or well-being of such animal due to heat, cold, lack of adequate air, food or drink, or such other circumstances as may reasonably be expected to cause suffering, disability or death.
In other words, it’s just best to leave vulnerable pets and children at home, safe and out of the heat.
