HomeMy WebLinkAboutDogs in Hot Car
City of Edina 4801 W. 50th St. Edina, MN 55424
Contact: Debbie Townsend, Communications Assistant
Phone 952-826-0396 dtownsend@EdinaMN.gov EdinaMN.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Act When You See a Dog in a Hot Vehicle
Edina, Minn., May 4, 2017 – People who see a dog locked in a car on a warm day should not follow the
advice going around on Facebook, Edina Police warn. The post is full of misinformation.
Leaving a pet in a vehicle, even for just a few minutes, can cause them to overheat and die. Play it safe: If you
plan to run errands, leave the pets at home.
For people in Edina who see a pet they believe is in distress in a vehicle, Animal Control Officer Tim Hunter
says do the following:
Call either 911 or 952-826-1600 to report the situation. Make sure to be able to describe the vehicle,
license plate number and the type of dog, if possible.
Be able to describe the location of the vehicle: address, area of the lot where it is parked, by what
business. Remember, officers will need to find it quickly.
Report how long has the animal has been in the vehicle, if known. For example, was it in the car when
the caller first went into the store and is still there when that person came back?
DO NOT break into the vehicle.
It is not necessary, but the caller may remain on scene to better direct emergency responders to the
correct vehicle.
People who break into a vehicle themselves, as the social media post advocates, potentially face criminal
charges and civil liability. Such steps also could lead to a confrontation with the vehicle driver. Instead, call law
enforcement immediately to handle the situation.
For more information, contact Hunter at 952-826-0494 or thunter@EdinaMN.gov.
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