Driver fined more than $1K after 2 dogs rescued from hot car

A driver has been handed a hefty fine after Halifax police rescued two small dogs left in a hot car Thursday as temperaturessoared.

One passerby who saw the dogs in the car on Clyde Streetsaid she thought they'd been there for a while.

"The dogs were crying inside the car," said Julie Harrington."Everyone who was around was just horrified."

According to Environment Canada, it was30 C with the humidex by noon Thursday.

Harrington said dozens of people stopped to check on the animals.

Cindy Bayers, a spokesperson for the Halifax Regional Police, said officers who arrived on the scene at 12:40 p.m.used a partially open window to unlock the car and free the dogs.

Police gave the driverthree tickets: two $697.50 tickets for leaving animals in an unattended vehicle in conditions that could cause distress and one $250 ticket for owning an unlicensed dog.

Bayers said people should call 911 if they see an animal in distress. She said even with the windows open, a parked car can quickly heat to dangerous levels.