An Ohio woman will appear in court and faces a $250 fine after leaving her dog in a hot car for 30 minutes on a warm afternoon in Virginia. According to police, the incident triggered the animal safety law that protects pets from dangerous heat exposure.
City of Fairfax police officers responded to a call around 2:06 p.m. on Saturday. The caller, a bystander in the parking lot of Lifetime Fitness at 9602 Main Street, reported a dog in distress that had been left in a vehicle for more than half an hour.
It was a hot afternoon, and AccuWeather’s historical data for Fairfax indicated the temperature was close to 80 degrees that day.
Leaving a dog inside a parked car in those temperatures is dangerous.
When police arrived, they were unable to locate the car’s owner. With help from the City of Fairfax Fire Department, they gained access to the vehicle. The animal was rescued and taken to the Fairfax County Animal Shelter for treatment. It was later returned to the owner, 57-year-old Hong Wilson of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Wilson was charged with failing to provide water to a pet, also known as a companion animal. The offense is classified as a Class 4 misdemeanor under Virginia’s new animal safety law, and the maximum penalty is a $250 fine.
Her preliminary hearing is set for September 18 at 9:30 a.m. in Fairfax City General District Court.
The new animal safety law protects pets from harm when left in vehicles where heat can kill them in minutes. Even when the weather is mild, studies show that temperatures inside a parked car can rise by 20 degrees Fahrenheit in just 10 minutes, and almost 30 degrees in 20 minutes.
Fairfax police have cautioned people to take precautions and watch the welfare of pets, even when leaving them at home. They also urged residents to call authorities immediately if they see an animal left alone and in distress.
© 2025 El Diario 24 US by El Diario 24
© 2025 El Diario 24 US by El Diario 24

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