Dog Left in Hot Car So Berwyn Woman Could Shop: Police

Story by Scott Viau (Patch Staff). Photos courtesy of a Patch reader.

Joliet, IL — A 21-year-old Berwyn woman received a $300 citation after she allegedly left a dog in a locked hot car to go shopping.

Police were called at 2:45 p.m. Sunday to the parking lot of Gander Mountain in the 3300 block of Essington in Joliet for a report of a dog left in a hot car, according to Joliet Deputy Chief Ed Gregory.

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An officer on the scene found the dog in a black four-door 2015 Ford Fusion with the windows cracked.
“The dog was in the backseat and panting,” Gregory said. The temperature outside was 85 degrees.

The officer had the owner of the car paged in Gander Mountain and the woman took around 25 minutes to get back to her car, Gregory said.

According to a witness on scene, the officer gave the dog water while he waited for the woman. Gregory confirmed that water was given to the dog.

A Joliet ordinance states that temperatures become distressful for dogs when they’re above 75 or below 35, Gregory said.

Yulissa Romanescu was given a citation for cruelty to animals.