St. Augustine, Florida – On April 6, 2025, deputies from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office (SJSO) responded to a report of a dog locked inside a car in the Home Depot parking lot on Durbin Pavilion Drive.

Deputy Parker arrived on the scene and found the dog in distress. The car’s engine was off, the doors were locked, and all windows were fully closed.

Witnesses told deputies that the dog had been inside the vehicle for at least 15 minutes. With temperatures outside rising, Deputy Parker broke the car’s side window to safely remove the dog.

The high temperature in St. Augustine that day reached 82 degrees. Inside a closed vehicle, temperatures can climb above 100 degrees quickly, posing serious danger to animals and people.

Authorities urge the public: never leave children or animals in a vehicle during extreme temperatures.

The U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) warns that the temperature inside a parked car can rise rapidly, even when it’s under 70 degrees outside. Hot car deaths can occur any time of year.

With summer approaching in Florida, officials stress the importance of this life-saving reminder.

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