Pittsburgh Woman Sentenced to Three Months in Jail and Fined For Leaving Her Cat in a Hot Car

Though I still see this as a light sentence in relation to the stupidity and cruelty, it still sends a good message. Starting to take animal cruelty serious is being seen more and more. I commend the judge for not doing the usual probation, etc.

For more on what to do if you see an animal caught in a hot car see: http://geari.blogspot.com/2006/05/
if-you-see-animal-confined-to-vehicle.html

Article:

Woman sent to jail, left cat in hot car

http://www.timesonline.com/site/news.cfm?
newsid=17109680&BRD=2305&PAG=461&
dept_id=478569&rfi=6

By: AP
08/25/2006

Tia the cat is being cared for at Animal Friends in Ohio Township. AP

Pittsburgh - A woman was sentenced to three months in jail and fined for leaving her cat in a hot car, seriously harming the animal.

Cherie Phipps had been convicted in a similar case last year when a dog died of heat stroke in her overheated car in Mount Oliver, authorities said.

She was sentenced by district judge Wednesday in the cat case, although Phipps failed to show for the hearing, leading authorities to issue a warrant for her arrest.

The district judge also fined her $750, and prohibited from owning any animals for 90 days.

A passer-by contacted authorities on July 14 to report that the cat was in distress in the hot car in Pittsburgh. The cat will soon be healthy enough for adoption, Animal Friends humane officer Katie Waters said.