Brownwood Animal Control and the Brownwood Police Department released the following Public Service Announcement on Thursday.

With the hottest days of the summer approaching, Brownwood Animal Control would like to remind the residents of Brownwood that leaving a dog inside a hot car can have dangerous consequences for the dog and legal repercussions for the owner.

Every summer, animal control receives calls relating to dogs being left in cars in parking lots around the City of Brownwood.  Upon arrival, invariably the same excuse surfaces; “I just planned on being in the store for just a minute.”

Quick trips into the store easily become delayed and a dog is left to suffer in the increasing heat.  An outdoor temperature of 85 degrees can cause the temperature inside a car to reach 100 degrees in less than 10 minutes.  At an outdoor temperature of 100 degrees, the temperature can reach 140 degrees in less than 15 minutes.’

“Leaving your dog in the vehicle is serious business for the ACO’s,” said Brownwood Assistant Chief of Police James Fuller.  “I’d hate to think of the dog’s pain or of the guilt a dog owner would have if a simple ‘run inside’ caused a death.”