A suburban pet owner is charged with animal cruelty after he left his two dogs locked alone in a hot car Monday, and one of the dogs died.
Jaime Reyes-Velasco, 28, is charged with two counts each of cruelty to animals, violation of owners duties and confining an animal in a motor vehicle, all misdemeanors, according to a statement from Elgin police.
Officers responded about 4 p.m. to the 300 block of South McLean Boulevard, after someone reported that a dog was left unattended in a parked vehicle, police said.
Police checked the area and found Reyes-Velasco, the dogs’ owner, and had him open the car where they found a second dog lying motionless on the floorboard, police said.
Animal Control officials determined that both of the dogs were suffering from heatstroke and immediately started trying to cool them down, police said.
The dogs were taken to Golf Rose Animal Hospital in Schaumburg, police said. One dog had to be euthanized because of injuries resulting from the extreme heat. The other dog remains at the hospital for further monitoring.
Meanwhile, the police department is warning all pet owners about the danger of leaving pets in parked cars through its “Too Hot for Spot” campaign.
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In 80-degree weather, temperatures inside a car can soar to 99 degrees within just 10 minutes, according to the Human Society of the United States. Rolling down the windows does little to lower temperature inside a vehicle, the group said.
Animals can sustain brain damage or even die from heatstroke in just 15 minutes, according to police.
Anyone who sees a pet left alone in a parked vehicle should contact police, or call 911 in an emergency, officials said.
Reyes-Velasco, of the 100 block of North 15th Street in St. Charles, was released on bond, police said. He will next appear in court Aug. 14 at the Elgin Branch Court.