Woman Ticketed for Leaving Dog in Car in St. Charles

issued a citation to a woman who left a dog in a car while she shopped at off of Veterans Memorial Parkway last week. 

Temperatures reached a high of 103 °F on the afternoon of July 5. Someone called police to report a brown and white pointer or mixed breed dog inside of a car. Police arrived by 3:30 p.m. 

Three windows were partway down, but the dog was panting heavily, said Lt. Dave Senter of the St. Charles Police Department. The temperature inside the car was 114 °F. 

The owner of the car returned to her car to meet the officer at 3:55 p.m., Senter said. Police issued the woman a citation for abandoning the animal in a vehicle. 

Animal neglect and abandonment are ordinance violations. A first offense is punishable by imprisonment of up to 15 days and/or a fine of up to $500.   

Senter said the dog was not seized. 

Incidents like this happen a few times each summer, Senter said, but it's not a widespread problem. 

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