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A pet dog succumbed to heat stroke after being stuck on a Pleasanton apartment balcony on Tuesday morning into early afternoon, according to city police.
The initial investigation indicates the situation was unintentional, but detectives are conducting a thorough probe into the circumstances of what happened, according to a statement from the Pleasanton Police Department.
The police statement also implies that bystanders witnessed the dog yelping in distress on the sunny apartment balcony near the corner of Gibraltar and Hacienda drives, but posted about it on social media before alerting authorities. Meanwhile, some residents have been critical of the police response, claiming it took roughly an hour for PPD personnel to actually be dispatched and arrive to the scene Tuesday.Â
“This is a disturbing and tragic incident, and we recognize the concern and interest from those who care about animal welfare,” the PPD statement read. “We understand a video of the dog was circulating on social media prior to the initial report, generating hundreds of comments from the community.”
“Additionally, we want to emphasize the importance of acting quickly involving animal welfare concerns. If you see something, please report it immediately rather than waiting to share it on social media … If you witness any animals in distress, please call 9-1-1 right away,” PPD added.
According to the police statement, the department’s dispatchers received a call around noon from someone reporting a dog barking, whining and exposed to the sun on the balcony in question.
The police animal services officer, in line with department protocol, contacted the apartment’s leasing office to try to locate the owner quickly, but the effort was unsuccessful, the department stated.
Police personnel arrived at the scene within 15 minutes of being dispatched and discovered that the dog had died from heat stroke, according to the department.
But one key aspect that remains in question is the timing of that sequence of events, in particular any potential gap between when the initial call was received and when PPD staff were dispatched to the apartment complex.
Multiple residents on social media said the first call was made to police at noon, but the dispatch order wasn’t given until 12:54 p.m., with PPD personnel arriving at 1:09 p.m. PulsePoint recorded an entry of the Livermore-Police Fire Department being called to the scene for a police assist at 12:54 p.m.
Pleasanton PD representatives had not responded to a request for clarification on the precise timeline as of Wednesday morning.
The circumstances of the dog’s death remain under investigation, police said. The owner has not been publicly identified, and it is unclear whether they will face criminal charges.
“The preliminary stages of the investigation suggest this was not intentional, however, as our detectives conduct a complete and thorough investigation, we kindly ask for the community’s patience,” police said.
They added a reminder for responsible pet ownership, especially when temperatures are high like Tuesday, “With the hot weather, it is crucial to keep all animals cool indoors and ensure they have access to water.”
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