Puppy left in hot car dies; owner arrested

A 19-year-old woman was arrested in San Bernardino County for allegedly leaving her golden retriever puppy in a hot car while shopping at the mall, police said Wednesday.

The dog was left in the woman's BMW for hours with no ventilation or water during a 90-degree day in Ontario, police said.

A passerby noticed and alerted authorities, who eventually removed the dog but not in time to save its life, said Officer Anthony Ortiz of the Ontario Police Department.

The woman, identified as Chang Qui, was arrested Monday on an animal-cruelty charge.

With the weather warming up, authorities have been ramping up efforts to warn the public not to leave pets and children alone in cars.

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-- Robert Faturechi
Twitter.com/@RobertFaturechi

Photo: Chang Qui. Credit: Ontario Police Department