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SALT LAKE CITY -- Hefty fines and possible jail time await people who leave pets to roast in hot cars this summer in Salt Lake County.
County animal services officers warn that if they see a distressed animal inside a hot car, they will break the vehicle's window. The owner may face an animal cruelty charge, a $1,000 fine and six months in jail.
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Officers say it doesn't matter if the animal is left for only a few minutes. It also doesn't matter if the vehicle windows are cracked open, or if a water bowl is inside the car. They say with summer temperatures, it can take as few as five minutes for pets to overheat.
Animal services says more people leave pets in cars the hotter it gets. The Salt Lake Tribune reports dogs are the most common animal left in cars.
E-mail: aadams@ksl.com
