SEQUIM — A Pekingese was reported dead at 3:45 p.m. Sunday after being left in a car for an unknown period of time, Sequim code enforcement officer Lisa Hopper said Monday.
The dog perished in the Costco Wholesale parking lot, Hopper said, adding that another dog was also in the vehicle and survived.
“In the last week alone, I’ve been getting two or three calls a day about dogs locked in cars,” said Hopper, who doubles as the city’s animal control officer.
Leaving a dog — or any pet — in a vehicle on a warm day can lead to a $250 fine for animal cruelty, she said.
When asked whether the owner of the dog that died Sunday was cited, Hopper said the incident is still under investigation.
She urged people to call 9-1-1 if they see a pet locked inside a car.
When Hopper is alerted to a pet left in a vehicle, she goes to the scene and tries to find the owner; failing that she may remove the animal by breaking in.
