Dog Found Dead In Crate; Temperature Reached 133 Degrees

TAMPA, FL — Animal rescue groups say the recent death of a dog locked inside a crate in a Tampa home illustrates the danger that heat poses to pets. Tampa Police charged a 34-year-old man with animal cruelty after a dog was found dead in his home inside a crate where the temperature registered 133 degrees.

Police and Hillsborough County animal control officers were called to a home June 22 and discovered a dead dog inside a crate that was sitting in direct sunlight. There was no food or water in the crate. A veterinarian said the dog most likely died of heat stroke.

Animal control officers also found two other dogs confined to a small room with no food or water.

Ronell Nedd of the 2600 block of 8th Avenue was charged with three counts of aggravated cruelty to animals and three counts of unlawful confinement or abandonment of an animal at 127 degrees.

His bond was set at $7,500. He was released from jail after posting bail the same day as his arrest.

Following the discovery of the dead dog, pet rescue groups throughout Tampa Bay are warning residents to take special precautions to protect their pets as the heat index soars to 110 degrees. However, they say it's equally dangerous to leave a pet in a confined space or locked car even when the weather is pleasant.

In April, Hillsborough County Sheriff's deputies rescued three puppies who were experiencing heat distress after being left in a parked car.

Although the outdoor temperature was in the 80s, the temperature inside the car parked sitting in direct sunlight was 130 degrees.

The owner voluntarily surrendered the puppies and was not charged. However, pet owners could face felony animal cruelty charges under state law.

Animal rescue groups offer the following tips:

• Keep animals indoors. Unlike humans, dogs can sweat only through their paw pads and cool themselves by panting, so even brief sun exposure can have life-threatening consequences. Anyone who sees animals in distress and is unable to help should note their location and alert authorities immediately.
• Never leave an animal inside a hot vehicle. Temperatures can quickly soar in parked cars, and a dog trapped inside can die from heatstroke within minutes—even if the car is in the shade with the windows slightly open, which has little to no effect on lowering the temperature inside the car. PETA offers an emergency window-breaking hammer for help intervening in life-or-death situations.
• If you see a dog left alone in a hot car, call local humane authorities or the police. Don't leave the scene until the situation has been resolved. If the authorities are unresponsive or too slow and the dog's life appears to be in imminent danger, find a witness (or several) who will back up your assessment. Then remove the suffering animal from the car and wait for authorities to arrive.
• The Florida Good Samaritan Law gives citizens the right to break into another person’s motor vehicle if a “vulnerable person” or “animal” appears to be in distress. The law, Florida statute 768.139, went into effect on March 8, 2016. If the Good Samaritan follows certain steps, the law guarantees civil immunity for damages resulting from entry into the vehicle. Click here for more information.
• Avoid hot pavement. When outdoor temperatures reach the 80s, asphalt temperatures can climb to 140 degrees, causing pain, burns and permanent damage to dogs' paws after just a few minutes of contact. Walk dogs on grass whenever possible, and avoid walking in the middle of the day. Never run with dogs in hot weather—they'll collapse before giving up, at which point, it may be too late to save them.