Swampscott Firefighters Rescue Dog from Hot Car

The Swampscott Fire Department last week successfully broke into a vehicle after a passerby spotted a dog inside that “appeared to be in distress,” according to a local firefighter.

Swampscott firefighter Jason Losano said firefighters were able to enter the car without breaking a window after a person called about the dog locked in a black Volkswagon Jetta parked at Starbucks just after noon on Aug. 29.

According to Wunderground, Swampscott’s temperature was about 78 degrees with 90 percent humidity at that time.

“If there’s no driver around and no one can take responsibility, we’re required to get into the car,” Losano said, adding that it was the first time this summer the department has had to enter a vehicle.

Losano said he didn’t know what type of dog it was, but that it was a smaller breed. The dog was fine after being taken from the car.

Swampscott Animal Control Officer Diane Treadwell said people often think that cracking the windows or parking in the shade makes it safe to leave a dog in the car.

“People even think, ‘The dog’s in the shade,’ but It doesn’t matter if it’s in the shade or in the sun,” Treadwell said. “In 15 minutes you can do irreversible brain damage to a dog.

“It really is a serious deal.”

Treadwell said the dog’s owner came out of Starbucks and said that they didn’t expect it to take as long as it did inside.

“When it’s that hot out, leave the dog at home,” Treadwell stressed.