AR-News: (NC) Dogs left in hot car, one dies

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Asheville Citizen-Times,  citizen-times.com
letter to the editor word limit is 200, send to letters at citizen-times.com

The dogs "guardian" is Catherine Ntem, 5 Rathfarnham Road, Asheville, NC 
28803, 828-651-0229

Dog dies, another in serious condition after being left inside car 
By Jon Ostendorff, Staff WriterJune 2, 2004 10:21 p.m.
ASHEVILLE - A dog found in a car parked in the sun at the Asheville Mall died 
early Wednesday morning and the animal's owner is facing a criminal charge.
Lady, a female black Labrador, died at a veterinarian's office, said Officer 
Brenda Sears of Asheville Animal Services. Another dog found in the car, 
Junior, also a black Labrador, is in serious condition.
Catherine Pretress Ntem is charged with misdemeanor cruelty to animals. Sears 
said the warrant for Ntem's arrest had not been served Wednesday afternoon. 
Her age and address were not available.
Sears said the dogs were discovered in Ntem's car by mall patrons. All of the 
windows were up, she said.
"If anybody thinks it won't happen to their dog, that is a dangerous mind-set 
because it can happen and happen really fast."
A judge will decide what will happen to Junior, Sears said. A conviction on 
animal cruelty can carry a fine, the removal of any surviving animals and 
restrictions on animal ownership, Sears said.
Sears said her department is routinely called for pets locked in closed cars.

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She said pet owners should avoid leaving their animals inside a car.
"It's probably not a good idea to leave an animal in an unattended vehicle," 
she said. "We see a lot of people reporting that, and we respond to the calls. 
Not every single circumstance is going to rise to the level of a violation."
If pet owners must leave animals in a car for a short amount of time, they 
should park in the shade, leave the windows down and provide water, Sears said.
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