Woman cited for leaving dog in 100-degree vehicle

SPRINGVALE - A Springvale woman was cited on animal cruelty charges Monday after leaving her dog unattended in a locked hot car.

Sanford Police Animal Control responded to Mid-Town Mall parking lot around 1:20 p.m. and found the canine inside the parked car, which was fully exposed to the sun.

The temperature outside was 87 degrees, and the dog "appeared to be in distress," Sanford Deputy Chief Tim Strout said today. Police reported the temperature inside the car was 100 degrees.

Breanne Decker, 32, of 15 Weeman St., Apt. #A, Springvale, was summonsed for animal cruelty.

Strout said that concerned citizens should call police if they think an animal is endangered by being in a hot car as the state statute sets protocols for removal from an unattended motor vehicle. One such protocol is that a lawman, first responder, animal control officer, or other "authorized persons" can break into a vehicle to remove a dog.