Video Shows Dog Trapped in Hot Parked Camper Being Rescued by Colorado Police

Officers shared harrowing footage of a dog and a kitten being rescued from a hot trailer, while temperatures outside soared to nearly 100 degrees

A harrowing rescue of a cat and dog left in a hot trailer was caught on camera by Colorado police officers — and authorities are warning other pet owners about the dangers of leaving furry friends in hot cars.

On Thursday, July 18, the Wheat Ridge Police Department shared a video to Facebook of the moment officers broke down the door of a camper trailer after receiving a call about a barking dog on Thursday, July 11.

According to the suburban Denver police department, officers arrived on the scene at around 3 p.m., and neighbors told them that the trailer had been parked in its spot since 10 a.m. that morning.

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"At the scene, our [community service officers] discovered one of the doors was unsecured. We were able to get a reading that the internal temperature of the camper ranged from 91 to 103 degrees Fahrenheit," the department wrote in the Facebook post, adding that they discovered that a small kitten had also been left inside.

"Our CSOs decided the best course of action was removing the animals from the camper," the department added.

According to Weather Underground, the Denver area experienced a high of 97 degrees on July 11, and local Fox affiliate KDVR reported that the city's heat broke a 52-year-old record when temperatures hit 102 degrees on Friday afternoon. The last time the area experienced such high heat was in 1971, when temperatures reached 101.

Wheat Ridge police added that investigators were able to get ahold of the cat and dog's owner, who will face disciplinary measures.

"We were able to get in touch with the camper's owner the next day and issued a summons for animal cruelty for both the dog and the kitten," they added.

According to the city of Denver's website, anyone who leaves an animal in an overheated car can be charged with animal cruelty and face a potential fine of up to $999 and/or 300 days in jail.

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The ASPCA warns pet owners that it's never a good idea to leave pets in a parked car, as temperatures can quickly skyrocket to be in the 100s and animals can quickly develop heat stroke. The Red Cross also provides pet owners with a few first aid skills that can be used to help cool down a pet in a heat stroke.

"If you suspect your pet has heat stroke, take their temperature rectally," the Red Cross states. "If the temperature is above 105 degrees, cool the animal down. The easiest way to do this is by using the water hose. Stop cooling the animal when the temperature reaches 103 degrees."

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"Bring your pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible as heat stroke can lead to severe organ dysfunction and damage," the organization adds.

The Wheat Ridge Police Department also warned pet owners in its post about the dangers of high heat for animals left in cars without air conditioning.

"While we’re clear of triple-digit degrees in the Denver metro for now, it is still TOO HOT," the department wrote. "Don’t leave pets in cars and trailers unattended."

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