Watch: Deputies rescue trapped dogs in locked car
By Allen Cone
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OKEECHOBEE, Florida (WPBF) — The Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office wants people to see the dangers of leaving someone in a locked vehicle — even when it’s November.
On Saturday, the agency posted video of Tuesday’s incident on Facebook from north of the county.
“The video is graphic in nature and shows the real and immediate dangers of leaving an animal inside a vehicle — even for a very short period of time,” the post reads.
Both dogs involved in this incident were saved and made a full recovery after receiving emergency veterinary treatment from Dr. GW Jarriel at Okeechobee Veterinary Hospital.
Sgt. Richard Varnadore busted open a window with a device as the temperature inside was rising.
He carried one dog out of the vehicle and gave the animal some water from a bottle. The rescuer noticed the dog felt really hot.
After retiring the one dog, Varnadore and K-9 handler Carson Reno rescued the other one.
The vehicle was equipped with an automatic shut-off feature that turns the engine off after 15 minutes. The owner thought the feature had been disengaged, but the system activated and the vehicle shut down.
When the owners realized they had no way to enter the locked vehicle, they called the sheriff’s office for help.
The interior temperature rose rapidly — a dangerous scenario.
“This incident is a direct example of how quickly conditions inside a vehicle can become life-threatening for pets,” the sheriff’s office posted. “Our intention is not to shock, but to educate and prevent future tragedies. Please help us share this message responsibly to protect our pets, our children, and our community.”
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