Owner of Harkins Theatres cited for leaving dog in hot car

SCOTTSDALE, AZ - Scottsdale police issued a citation for animal neglect to the owner of Harkins Theatres over the weekend after they say he left his dog in a hot car for more than an hour.

An officer cited Dan Harkins, 57, with animal neglect after police say he left his female dog named Tanga in a car in triple digit heat.

Scottsdale police received a call Saturday night at the Harkins Theater located at Scottsdale Road and Shea after someone spotted the Corgi in the front seat of a BMW.

"The way the dog was lying there, I thought it was either sick or dead," said Donna Yuritic, who first spotted the unattened dog and notified police.

According to a police report obtained by ABC15, the responding officer did find dog in a car parked in the shade with the windows rolled down two to three inches.

In the report, the officer states Tanga "appeared uncomfortable in the condition it was in."

Scottsdale police say Harkins arrived at the car a short time later and admitted to leaving his dog in the car while he went in to see the film "Micmacs."

"I think everyone was shocked," said Yuritic.  "You own the theater.  Take the dog with you.  The dog could have had a front row seat and a Coke."

Harkins was also cited by Scottsdale police for illegally parking in a handicap space.

"It gives a bad image, it gives the wrong impression," said Harkins.

Harkins says he'll fight the charge of animal neglect claiming his dog was never in distress.  He claims to have walked Tanga four times in a nearly three hour period.

"She was taking a nap, well hyrdrated, been to the bathroom," said Harkins.  "The police officer arrived just minutes after I attended to Tanga so she was probably well spoiled at the time."