Animal cruelty charges are being considered after the death of a six-month-old puppy found locked inside a sweltering car.
RCMP were called to the B.C. Institute of Technology campus in Burnaby on Saturday, where they found the puppy unconscious inside a car that had heated to 68 C.
Police say the sunroof was cracked open, but the young animal had been inside the car that was parked in direct sunlight for about three hours.
The owners were located just before police were called, and they unlocked the car and rushed the pet to a veterinarian, but it succumbed to the heat and died.
Police say the incident is a reminder to pet owners that it's unsafe to leave animals locked in a vehicle for any length of time during summer weather.
The B.C. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which also responded to the dog-in-distress call, are investigating whether charges should be laid.
