Sheriff: Deputy rescues Doodles the Dachshund from hot car

SALEM, Ore. - A deputy rescued Doodles the Dachshund from a kennel covered by a blanket in a car left with the windows cracked in 91 F heat, the Marion County Sheriff's Office said.

The 1-year-old dog was held at the county's dog shelter, where staff said it is in good condition. Arrangements are being made to return the dog to the wife of the man accused of neglecting the dog.

A sheriff's deputy arrested William E. Koskela, 49, of Athena, Ore., on a charge of second degree animal neglect. He has posted bail and is due in court Aug. 22.

The investigation started with a 911 call Wednesday afternoon from an employee at the Enchanted Forest RV Park reporting that a dog had been left unattended in a car in the parking lot for over 2 hours.

Sr. Deputy Skip Lumley Lumley found the dog in a 2011 Subaru inside a kennel, with a blanket draped over it. 

The windows of the car were down about 2 inches, but Lumley noticed that the outside temperature was 91 degrees and there was little air movement through the car.  The inside temperature of the car was significantly higher, the sheriff's office said, and the deputy was unable to get a response from the dog.

Lumley located Koskela in the RV park. Koskela initially refused to grant Lumley access to the dog to check its condition, the sheriff's office said, but eventually allowed the deputy inside the vehicle. 

The dog was dehydrated and showing signs of suffering from heat, and the kennel smelled of urine and there was no water available, the sheriff's office said.

The dog was given some water and placed in an air conditioned patrol car before being taken to the animal shelter.