No animal neglect in death of dog at Pleasanton apartment balcony, police say

( KRON ) — The Pleasanton Police Department (PPD) announced on Tuesday that a dog tragically died from heat stroke after being left alone on an apartment balcony near Gibraltar Drive and Hacienda Drive.

Video footage posted on the Nextdoor app showed the dog trapped on the balcony outside during a heat wave. According to PPD, surveillance footage shows the dog exited the apartment between 8:30 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. The pet was unable to reenter the unit, “unbeknownst to the owner,” police said.

Upon further investigation, police said Thursday that they determined there were no findings of animal neglect, despite allegations coming from community members.

According to PPD, a local veterinarian determined the cause of the dog’s death was heat stroke “with no other signs of injury or neglect.” The department added that fatal heat stroke can happen within an hour of direct sunlight.

However, one neighbor claimed on Nextdoor that the case was dog abuse on the part of the owner. The neighbor claims dog abuse has been reported numerous times, and “the leasing office failed to save this poor pup.”

Multiple comments on PPD’s original Facebook post about the incident called for the dog owner to be charged. Those who watched the now-deleted Nextdoor video of the dog stuck on the balcony have called the footage “traumatic.”

The dog’s death appears to be an isolated incident that is rare in the Pleasanton community. Police request that the public show respect for the owner of the deceased dog.

“The Pleasanton Police Department has no prior history of calls for service regarding animal welfare at this address,” the department said. “We kindly request that the public show respect for all parties involved, particularly the dog owner during this time of grief.”

The dog’s death prompted a lot of public and community concern over pet safety. PPD said it will increase patrols in the neighborhood.

“We would also like to remind the public that, when calling 9-1-1, to provide as much detail as possible so calls can be prioritized for the appropriate response,” Pleasanton police wrote in a Facebook post. “Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.”

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