PLEASANTON — Authorities were investigating the death of a dog Tuesday from apparent heat stroke after it was left outside on an apartment balcony.
In a social media post Tuesday evening, Pleasanton Police said “the preliminary stages of the investigation suggest (the dog’s death) was not intentional, however, as our detectives conduct a complete and thorough investigation, we kindly ask for the community’s patience.”
Police said that around noon Tuesday, dispatchers received a call about a dog seen on an apartment balcony near Gibraltar Drive and Hacienda Drive. The caller initially reported that the dog was barking, whining, and exposed to the sun, police said.
Temperatures in the area peaked near 100 degrees on Tuesday.
Police did not say if the dog was male or female, how old it was, and what breed it was.
The post said “following protocol, Pleasanton’s Animal Services Officer contacted the leasing office in attempt to quickly locate the dog’s owner, but unfortunately, this effort was unsuccessful. Within fifteen minutes of being dispatched to the call, our staff arrived on scene and discovered that the dog had sadly passed away from heat stroke.”
The post said police “understand a video of the dog was circulating on social media prior to the initial report, generating hundreds of comments from the community. This is a disturbing and tragic incident, and we recognize the concern and interest from those who care about animal welfare.”
Police have not identified the dog’s owner or specified what they told investigators.
In the post, police said “we want to emphasize the importance of acting quickly involving animal welfare concerns. If you see something, please report it immediately rather than waiting to share it on social media. With the hot weather, it is crucial to keep all animals cool indoors and ensure they have access to water. If you witness any animals in distress, please call 9-1-1 right away.”
Originally Published:
Source: www.mercurynews.com