Woman accused of locking puppy in car for over three hours on a nearly 90-degree day, police say

SANDUSKY, Ohio. (WOIO/Gray News) - A woman in Ohio is accused of leaving her puppy inside her vehicle on a nearly 90-degree day while she attended a theme park.

According to Sandusky Police Department records, officers were dispatched to a Cedar Point parking lot for a complaint of a dog locked in a vehicle.

When officers arrived, they discovered a small German shepherd puppy, estimated to be 4 to 6 months old, locked inside a Honda SUV.

Police said it was also noted that the National Weather Service listed the temperature outside at 83 degrees, with a heat index of 85 degrees.

From outside the vehicle, officers could feel heat radiating through the slightly open windows, and the puppy was curled on the rear passenger-side floorboard, excessively panting.

The police report stated that the passenger-side windows were only rolled down between 1 and 1.5 inches.

Officers said no water could be seen anywhere inside the vehicle, and because of that, they determined that entry into the vehicle would be necessary to remove the dog.

Cedar Point maintenance arrived to help officers gain access to the vehicle and removed the dog, providing it with immediate access to water.

Sandusky Police said when officers removed the dog, the dog was still panting heavily and was extremely warm to the touch.

Cedar Point security took the dog to the park’s provided dog daycare.

Using security footage, police located the vehicle and the four occupants who arrived at the park and obtained a description of those inside.

Footage also showed that the dog had been inside the locked vehicle for over three hours.

An officer took a picture of the four occupants and went into the park to locate them, the report said.

While attempting to locate the four occupants of the vehicle, the officer found a group who matched the description and made contact with the suspected driver.

Officers said she identified herself as 22-year-old Briana Jones and admitted to driving the Honda SUV and leaving the dog inside.

Jones was removed from the park and taken to jail, where she was served with a charge of cruelty to animals.

Jones is being held at the Erie County Jail on a $2,500 bond.