Police say Portsmouth man left puppy in hot car while at Walmart

Temps inside cars can soar in just 10 minutes; inset, Matt Patten (Rochester Police photo)

ROCHESTER - A Portsmouth man was cited for leaving a puppy in a hot car during Wednesday oppressive heat.

A Good Samaritan reported to police they saw the pup in the parking lot of the Walmart auto care center around 4:20 p.m. on Wednesday.

Police arrived to find the pup in a dog crate inside the car.

"Due to the heat and humidity, there were obvious concerns for the puppy as the inside of the vehicle can be even hotter than the outside temperature," Rochester Police Capt. Todd Pinkham said today.

Pinkham said the windows were cracked, but the air conditioner was not on and officers did not see a bowl of water readily available.

Due to the weather, police observations and the length of time the puppy was in the vehicle, Matt Patten, 37, of Gosling Road, was issued a hand summons for cruelty to animals, a Class B misdemeanor that carries no jail time but can result in a stiff fine.

Wednesday's highs reached into the low- to mid-90s.