Woman accused of leaving dog in hot car to die
An Irvine woman was facing felony charges Wednesday, accused of leaving a dog in a hot car to die.
On Monday night, a California Highway Patrol officer discovered the dog inside a vehicle parked at the Del Taco on Vista Del Norte and Dillon Road in Coachella.
Coachella Police say the dog had already died when it was found at 10:37 p.m.
It appeared to have been left in a locked car with closed windows for more than a day.
Temperatures around the Coachella Valley Sunday and Monday were near the 100 degree mark. Temperatures inside a closed vehicle can easily be 20 to 40 degrees higher than outside.
Officers later arrested the owner of the car and dog, Charu Cata Khanna, 29, for felony cruelty to an animal resulting in death.
Riverside County Animal Control officers took possession of the animal.
Khanna was booked into the Riverside County Jail in Indio on $5000 bail.
Coachella Police would like to encourage the public to immediately call 911 if they see an animal in distress within an unattended vehicle.
