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A Marion County Sheriff’s Officer is credited with saving the life of a dog left inside a car for more than two hours, windows almost entirely rolled up, while temperatures soared and the dog’s owner went hiking.
According to a press release,
22 year old, Victoria Nguyen, of Beaverton was cited and released after leaving her dog locked in a vehicle while she went hiking at Silver Falls State Park last Sunday. When deputies arrived to help the dog, it was unresponsive and panting due to the 90 degree heat. Deputy Corey Larned attempted to locate the owner but after no luck he was able to unlock the doors via a slightly cracked window.
According to Deputy Larned he carried the dog to his patrol car where he placed the AC on high and provided the dog water. Deputy Larned stated that within minutes the dog was drinking water and back up on its feet.
Deputy Larned was finally able to locate Ms. Nguyen who stated she had gone hiking and left the dog inside of the vehicle after allowing it to go to the bathroom. It was estimated that the dog had been in the vehicle over two hours, parked in the direct sunlight, in 90 degree heat. Ms. Nguyen was cited and released for Animal Neglect II, a B misdemeanor.
Despite nearly killing her dog, it was returned to Ms. Nguyen’s custody.
According to the American Animal Hospital Association, cracking the windows doesn’t cut it. Your car can become a death trap even on a mild sunny day–and can insidiously raise the car’s temperature to well above 120 degrees! Never, ever leave your pet inside the car. If Fido can’t come with you when you get out of the car, leave him or her at home.
tkrtoma
Aug 19, 2014 at 8:46 pm
Ugh, why do I bother to read the comments? People yelling and ranting, full of hate… it worked out, and hopefully the woman learned her lesson. Have a little faith and go work on your anger issues, people – it’s not just the story that brought out all that vitriol!
Lindanne
Aug 18, 2014 at 9:33 pm
WTF kind of brainless, heartless MORON takes their dog along to go hiking & THEN LEAVES THE DOG IN THE CAR????? If you’re not going somewhere where you’re going to be doing something with your dog, LEAVE YOUR DOG HOME!! This woman should never have gotten this poor dog back.
Suzy
Aug 18, 2014 at 8:16 pm
ARE YOU ‘F’-ING KIDDING ME???????? SHE GOT CITED AND GOT HER DOG BACK? WHO WROTE THIS ARTICLE????? “the dog to his patrol car where he placed the AC on high and provided the dog water. Deputy Larned stated that within minutes the dog was drinking water and back up on its feet.” WAY TO MAKE IT SOUND LIKE IT WASN’T A BIG DEAL!!! CARS CAN JUMP 30 DEGREES AND HIGHER IN UNDER 5 MINUTES! DO YOU REALIZE HOW LONG THIS DOG WAS UNDER DURRESS AND PANIC AND SUFFERING??? THIS IDIOT OF A HUMAN BEING SHOULD NOT ONLY HAVE BEEN CITED, BUT SHOULD GO TO SEVERAL CLASSES ON HOW TO TAKE CARE OF AN ANIMAL, A HUMAN, AND SERVE IN AN ANIMAL SHELTER FOR A MONTH! WHEN ON EARTH ARE WE GOING TO MAKE THESE LAWS HEFTIER? WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO HAVE COMMON SENSE? I WISH THIS GIRL GOT LOST ON HER HIKE AND BAKED IN THE HOT SUN WITH NO FOOD OR WATER HERSELF!!! WAY TO GIVE HER A SLAP ON HER WRIST! SHE’LL NEVER LEARN….WITH THE LACK THEIR OF STRICTER LAWS!!!
Brenda F
Aug 18, 2014 at 10:05 pm
If you don’t like the way animal cruelty laws are written in your state, DO something! Write to your legislature, go to town meetings, call your local SPCA for ideas on how to help get the laws changed. Complaining about them does nothing.
Suzy
Aug 18, 2014 at 10:15 pm
I have, I do, and I’m very active in animal rights~~you have NO idea!!! So complaining for someone to read in THEIR state, might just set a fire under their ass to do the same!!!! Don’t be so quick to accuse yourself!
Terri Marcum
Aug 18, 2014 at 7:27 pm
She should not have gotten the dog back. I am glad the officer saved the dog. However, what I really don’t understand is why she didn’t take the dog with her on the walk? Isn’t that one thing dogs live for? Walkies with their humans. Just saying…
d g
Aug 18, 2014 at 7:21 pm
I credit the officer for saving the dogs life but the dog should never have been returned to the lady. That dog was abused. She should have been given the maximum sentence. The poor dog could have died had the officer not saved it.
Janet Hudson
Aug 18, 2014 at 6:32 pm
Our dogs go everywhere with us. We have a hybrid and always leave the ac on if they need to stay in the car. We always plan our day around our kids. I agree most people should leave their dogs at home, but there is an exception to every rule.
Barbara
Aug 18, 2014 at 2:50 pm
I cannot believe they gave the dog back to her!!!! How thoughtless and uncaring of her to leave that poor baby in the car with the windows rolled up!!! I would have had to break the damn window – let that be part of the consequences for HER to deal with!!! I also can’t believe, with numerous articles about dogs and babies dying in hot cars, that this woman even took the dog with her – she should have left him home in air conditioning!!!!! My dogs DO NOT go with me when I do errands, etc. – they are home, safe and comfortable, as they should be!!!! There should most definitely be a much stiffer punishment for this act of animal cruelty – maybe, just maybe (and I’m not holding my breath for this) people would stop and THINK for one damned minute!!! UGHHH!!! The more I learn about people, the more and more I love my dogs and my time with them!
Chester
Aug 18, 2014 at 1:31 pm
Should be the max misdemeanor if not a felony. Maybe 12 months in jail and/or the max fine. Most sites I think it would be either $1000 or $5000.
Also, forget unlocking the door. Just break out a couple windows. Make that an undocumented fine.
Those two things might help. A little. Second offense is a felony and no pets of any kind for ten years.
brittany
Aug 18, 2014 at 1:25 pm
They shouldn’t have given back the dog. If she’s going to be that stupid and careless she shouldn’t own a dog!
Michelle H
Aug 18, 2014 at 12:59 pm
This moronic woman should not be allowed to own pets!!!
smith
Aug 18, 2014 at 12:52 pm
Would they have returned a child to this women?? NO She should not of gotten the dog back right away.
Dana Kent Gallup
Aug 18, 2014 at 12:39 pm
If a stiffer penalty was imposed, perhaps instead of a class b, people would have a change of mind, instead of leaving a pet to die. Their pet should be automatically turned over to ASPCA and they should lose Rights for pet adoption!
LAURA
Aug 18, 2014 at 12:33 pm
I am shocked and appalled that this dog was returned to this woman! She showed willful neglect, and clearly without intervention the dog would have died! If this had been a child would they have returned the kid to her custody after such a situation of her poor choices effecting the health and welfare of another life?!? This situation highlights the need to examine and change the laws surrounding the neglect and abuse of defenseless animals…
gail
Aug 18, 2014 at 12:13 pm
If this woman is capable of making such an irresponsible choice then why would they release the dog back into her custody? She clearly isn’t fit to own a dog in the first place.
Linda
Aug 18, 2014 at 11:35 am
There is a real easy solution. I travel with my small dogs often and when I must leave them in the car I leave the car running and the AC on. It’s real easy, I just have my ignition key detachable from the remainder of my keys and lock the car. Have been doing this for years and IT WORKS.
galpal
Aug 18, 2014 at 3:07 pm
I’m certainly not defending this person Linda and in the past, I have done what your suggesting when warming up my car in the winter in the parking lot at work, but I tried doing that with the vehicle I have now and it won’t let you lock your doors with the key in the ignition. I suppose it’s a good idea so you don’t lock your keys in the car, but it does cause some other problems. Anyway, I doubt she would have done that if she could and let it run for a couple hours.
Laurie
Aug 19, 2014 at 7:56 am
You need to go through the passenger side and lock the driver side door manually then lock the passenger door as well.
Jan griffiths
Aug 18, 2014 at 11:29 am
Any one with a brain knows this there are plenty of warnings about this What a stupid thoughtless person she is Do hope the little dog is ok
galpal
Aug 18, 2014 at 11:12 am
I just can’t believe with all the stories in the news, papers and internet about what happens to pets and children left in a car on even a warm day, that there are still people out there who do it. They are either ignorant or illiterate. I think one of the questions on an adoption form at animal shelters should be “what would be a safe outside temperature, to leave your pet in your car while you ran a short errand?” and the answer to that question should be a major factor in the decision as to if they are fit to be pet parents. Unfortunately, there is no form to fill out to see if you are fit to be a childs parent.
Barbara
Aug 18, 2014 at 2:53 pm
I think your idea about the question on a dog adoption form is a GREAT idea!!!! There may well be a safe temperature, but my answer would be NO TEMPERATURE IS SAFE, and you should never leave a pet unattended. If you are out doing errands, you do not need to take your dog with you. Give him the unconditional love and devotion you get from him/her.
Danny Lacey
Aug 18, 2014 at 11:07 am
It friggin amazes me that people are still such morons and still do this. How dumb do u have to be to not realize not a good idea to leave ur dog in a hot car. Disgusts me, another reason I like animals more than people
Julie Jo
Aug 18, 2014 at 10:53 am
I am so glad that the officer saved the dog which was clearly almost gone when he got there, but why on earth would they give her the dog back. That is clearly animal abuse. A felony in every state. The dog almost died. She was careless with that dog in every sense of the word and never should have gotten it back.