A Naugatuck couple was charged with animal cruelty after leaving their 3-and-a-half year olf German Shepherd in a hot car in the parking lot of a supermarket on Monday, according to police.
An officer responded to the Stop and Shop plaza at noon on Monday after Lisa Stumpo, 48, and David Stumpo, 51, had left their dog in the car with the windows partially down while they were in the store, police said.
Someone noticed the dog around 11:45 a.m. and called police because the dog appeared to be panting and looked hot by noon, according to police. Police said the dog was in car for more than 25 minutes and looked overheated.
The temperature was in the mid-80s, but it felt like low-90s because of the humidity, police said.
The dog's owners told police that they did not see the difference between a parked car with windows half-way down and moving car with windows half-way down, according to police.
Both were released on a written promise to appear and are due in Waterbury Superior Court on Sept. 10.
Police urge dog owners not to leave animals alone in hot cars. When the temperature is 70 or above, the temperature in the car can exceed 100 degrees.
