| State Senator Fined for Leaving Dog in Car |
| Senator Jake Knotts paid a 40 dollar fine
on Tuesday and picked up his dog Boom Boom from Cayce Public Safety
after animal control officers cited Knotts for neglect. "This dog here is not neglected, this dog is a honeybun," says Knotts. Knotts denies neglect and says Boom Boom, a Maltese, had been in his car for less than 30 minutes with the windows down when he went to grab a quick lunch. When he came back to his car, an animal control officer was trying to offer the dog water. Knotts says he was ticketed for leaving the dog unattended in a hot car for an hour, but says he's innocent and plans to prove it in court. Roxanne Rhodes from the Humane SPCA says no pet should be left in a car even in the shade during hot weather. "Even if you have the windows down on a 70 degree day, your car will be 150 degrees in 5 or 10 minutes," she says. Signs of heat stroke are a discolored tongue and vomiting. The Humane Society reccommends a cool towel and a little cool water to aid a heat exhausted dog. If your dog is displaying symptoms, get it to the veterinarian as soon as possible. The senator's court date for the ticket is June 18th, just two days before Boom Boom's first birthday. Under animal cruelty laws, a pet owner can be charged with a misdemeanor and even a felony if a pet dies in a hot car. "I'm going to take my people to court and the truth will come out," Knotts said. Knotts is confident he'll prove that Boom Boom was not in danger on Tuesday, but says he understands that the officer was doing his job. |