Crime & Safety
Police: Woman Left Dog Locked in Car While She Got Drunk
Clearwater Police say an officer rescued a pit bull terrier from a vehicle that was left unattended with the windows rolled up and no air conditioning on Clearwater Beach.
A woman has been charged with animal cruelty after police say she left a dog locked inside a car on Clearwater Beach.
According to officials, Clearwater Police Sgt. Joel Morley was working an off duty job at Pier 60 on Clearwater Beach around 5 p.m. Friday when he was notified of a dog locked in a vehicle near the pier.
The windows of the vehicle were rolled up and there was no running air.
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Morley reportedly waited near the vehicle for the owner to return, but when the dog, identified as a young pit bull terrier named Power, became distressed, he broke a window to get the dog out.
According to police, the owner of the vehicle, Melody Dyer, 20, returned about an hour after the incident. Officials say Dayer "was intoxicated and admitted to leaving the dog in the vehicle for approximately two hours while she was hanging out."
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Dyer, who resides in Tennessee, was arrested and charged with animal cruelty.
Power, the rescued dog, was turned over to the SPCA.
*updated 9:37 p.m. March 17, 2013
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