Dogs Found In Unattended Van By Police Are OK, Pasadena Humane Reports

The Pasadena Humane Society said Monday morning that a group of about 15 caged dogs found by police in an unattended van Sunday afternoon in East Pasadena were checked by Pasadena Humane and are doing fine.

“We were called by Pasadena PD to check on the dogs in the van,”  Pasadena Humane PR & Communications Manager Kevin McManus told Pasadena Now on Monday.

“The dogs are owned by an animal rescue who was having an adoption event at Petsmart. The event was over, so the rescuer had loaded the dogs and equipment into the van to head home. The rescuer was bringing the last of the equipment out when Pasadena PD showed up. PPD had us check the welfare of the dogs. Our Animal Control Officer verified that the dogs were all OK and no violation had occurred.”

The police were notified about the van parked along Electronic Drive near Sierra Madre Villa Ave. at about 5 p.m. by a security guard from a nearby shopping complex who heard barking coming from inside the van and alerted a nearby police officer on patrol, police said.

According to a news cameraman from RMG News, the temperature outside was 98 degrees at the time of the discovery of the animals.

Contrary to an early report, Pasadena police Lt. Chris Sharma said the van’s windows on the driver’s and passenger’s sides were down at the time of the officer’s arrival.

The officer found dogs of varying sizes locked in cages, barking loudly. He opened the van’s rear doors.

The Pasadena Humane Society was called to take over the investigation of the incident, Sharma said.

“We’re very thankful that someone in the community thought something was wrong and acted quickly. Happily, this time everything was fine, but we never want to run a risk in this heat with animals in cars,” McManus said.