Dog Dies After Being Left Inside A 125-Degree Car, Owner Arrested

A dog dies in Portsmouth, New Hampshire after its owner left it in a 125-degree car for several hours on Sunday, June 11.

The dog’s owner, identified as Susan Weillbrenner, was arrested on the scene and is now facing animal cruelty charges after the incident.

The 52-year-old woman from Tamworth left her Terrier mix in a vehicle, with the windows up, in a Portsmouth shopping center parking lot.

According to the Portsmouth NH Police Department, they responded to a report of an unresponsive dog inside a vehicle. However, when they arrived, the dog has already passed away.

“The outside temperature was in the mid 70’s with the internal temperature of the vehicle recorded at 125 degrees,” said the Portsmouth NH Police Department.

“Officers found a small bowl of food and a very small amount of water on the rear passenger seat.”

The dog was brought to the local veterinary hospital for necropsy, while Weillbrenner was released on personal recognizance and is expected to appear in Portsmouth District Court on July 17, 2023.

The New Hampshire Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals advises to immediately call the police if you see a dog inside a car on a hot day.

Being trapped inside a car can elevate a dog’s temperature rapidly, often in a matter of minutes. So, regardless if it’s summer or not, dogs can die of heat stroke when left inside a closed vehicle.