By Charles Lefebvre

Charge laid after dog left in vehicle

Jul 5, 2018 | 4:49 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — A woman is facing several charges after police responded to a dog being left in a vehicle.

According to Sgt. Paul Taylor with the Medicine Hat Police Service, officers were called to the 1800 block of Dunmore Road Southeast after receiving reports of the animal in the vehicle.

The dog was removed, and Taylor said the animal was in good health.

Officers made contact with the owner, who was fined $250 under the city’s Responsible Animal Ownership bylaw. She was also charged with leaving an animal in distress under the province’s Animal Protection Act.

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The latter charge results in a mandatory court appearance.

“The person who receives the ticket is required to appear in court before the judge or a justice of the peace and explain the circumstance, and the judge or justice of the peace will determine guilt, and whether or not a suitable fine is in order,” he said.

Taylor says the incident is a reminder for residents to not leave their dogs in vehicles during the summer months, as the heat can become deadly for the animals.

“A responsible pet owner should definitely be aware of how they’re leaving their pets, and if they plan to leave them in a vehicle, then maybe they should just be leaving them at home,, as opposed to bringing them in a vehicle and leaving them in harm’s way,” he said.

Taylor adds service also occasionally gets calls about children left alone in hot vehicles, and says police will always respond to calls of a child or a pet left alone in a vehicle.