Habersham County officials cited a man Friday after he left five dogs in a hot car in Clarkesville.
Several shoppers at Ingles in Clarkesville reported the unattended animals about 2:30 p.m. when the outdoor temperature was hovering around 90 degrees and the temperature inside the vehicle was almost 35 degrees hotter.
That’s according to Habersham County Animal Care and Control Director Madi Nix.
The incident involved a medium mixed-breed senior dog, two pit bull mixes and two smaller terriers that had been left in the vehicle for 20 to 30 minutes, according to Nix.
“The car interior temperature registered at 124 degrees,” Nix said.
Clarkesville police responded with animal control officers due to the agitated animal owner, whose name has not been released.
“Many times this is an educational thing when we respond,” Nix said. “Most people honestly don’t know the dangers of leaving an animal in a vehicle. Unfortunately, most times the officers are met with hostility and aggression, instead of a pet owner who is receptive to be educated.”
Nix opted to charge the man under the county ordinance.
“The dogs all had normal vital signs” after the incident, Nix said.
Otherwise, the owner would have faced charges under state law, she said.
Nix said the man and his girlfriend, both from other states, said they are living at a campground in Dahlonega and were just passing through Clarkesville.
