a day ago
Dog left in hot SUV sparks outrage in Memphis parking lot
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Police were called to the parking lot of Bass Pro Shops in Downtown Memphis after a good Samaritan noticed a dog in the back of an SUV on Friday.
Brett Hubbard didn't know how long the dog had been in the vehicle, but said the car was not running and the windows were barely cracked. He immediately called 911.
'I don't know why you would leave any living being in a car this time of year with no air-conditioning at all. It's just crazy to me,' said Hubbard.
Hubbard said police arrived right away, and a tow truck driver who happened to be driving through the lot popped the lock of the Subaru.
An officer was seen removing the small dog from the back of the SUV and giving the pup some cold water. At the time, the temperature was over 90 degrees.
'Bass Pro, they allow dogs in there. They could've taken it in on a leash or carried it or whatever,' Hubbard said. 'If you're not gonna be responsible, then don't have kids, don't have pets.'
Hubbard said officers also went inside Bass Pro and paged the owner of the Subaru several times.
A woman and a teenager could be heard telling a WREG photographer they had not been in the store very long. Hubbard responded by saying it had been 30 minutes since he placed the 911 call.
'It just blows my mind that someone thinks it's ok. I'm standing in the parking lot, covered in sweat, so I'm hot; all the police officers are hot. There's no telling how hot it was inside that vehicle,' Hubbard said.
In Tennessee, it is illegal to leave a dog unattended in a vehicle if the conditions inside could endanger the animal's health or safety. This includes situations where the temperature inside the car could lead to heatstroke, even with the windows cracked.
State law also allows individuals to break into vehicles to rescue animals in imminent danger, but only under specific conditions, like calling 911 first and remaining with the animal until help arrives.
It does not appear the owner of the dog was cited, and she was allowed to take the pup.
'I don't care if you leave your window cracked or whatever, either leave it running or take the dog inside, or don't take the dog with you whatsoever. And children, that's a whole different level of things,' said Hubbard.
In 90-degree weather, a parked car can heat up very quickly. After just 10 minutes, the interior temperature can rise to 109 degrees.
The CDC says never leave your pet in a parked car, as they can suffer from heat-related illnesses.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
