A Quebec woman is in the doghouse after pleading guilty to leaving a pint-sized pooch in her car in hot weather last summer.
Louise Perreault, of Maniwaki, was sentenced in Ottawa court this week to one year's probation and a $500 fine.
On June 24, 2005, with temperatures sitting at 29 C -- 35 C with the humidex -- Perreault went to a movie at SilverCity.
A passerby became concerned when he saw a Yorkshire Terrier trapped in Perreault's car and called police, who called the Ottawa Humane Society.
The Humane Society smashed Perreault's car window to rescue the dog, and found the temperature inside the car to be 48 C.
The small dog was taken to the Humane Society for emergency treatment. The dog made a full recovery.
'WOULD HAVE DIED'
Two hours passed from the time police were called to the time Perreault returned to her car.
"The dog probably would have died had someone not noticed it," said OHS outreach manager Sharon Miko.
"We've seen dogs die in similar situations."
Miko said the organization is frustrated that after all it's done to educate the public, someone could make what she called a "stupid, thoughtless mistake."
But Miko was quick to emphasize it was just that -- a mistake. "This woman doesn't seem to be someone who chronically tortures animals or anything."
Conditions of Perreault's probation include inspection rights for the SPCA to monitor any animals in her care, as well as an order not to leave an animal in her vehicle unattended for any length of time.
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