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Woman cited for animal cruelty after dog dies on Scottsdale hike

Fire officials said the dog had suffered "an extreme heat emergency."

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - First responders rescued three people who went out on a morning hike Wednesday near Lost Dog Wash on Scottsdale Mountain.

Their pit bull died while on the hike. Fire officials said the 4-year-old dog had suffered "an extreme heat emergency." Police said both the owner and fire personnel tried to revive the dog but were unsuccessful.

The owner, an unidentified 27-year-old woman, was cited for animal cruelty.

Each of the three people refused a trip to the hospital.

"It's it's too hot to breathe almost," said Scottsdale dog owner Sean Rawlings. "It sounds like someone doesn't have any common sense."

Scott Hamilton, the planner for the City of Scottsdale's McDowell Sonoran Preserve, which is home to the Lost Dog Wash Trail. He said the area can be difficult.

"The Lost Dog Wash trail is typical of (the) preserve. It's mountainous, rocky and there's very little shade," Scott Hamilton told 12 News.

The City of Phoenix closes its trails to dogs when the temperature reaches 100 degrees. Hamilton said while Scottsdale doesn't have a specific ordinance targeting pets and hiking in the heat, there are other precautions.

"We have various messages we rotate throughout the trails based on various heat warnings," Hamilton said.

Still, with dog deaths due to the extreme heat continuing to be a problem, Hamilton said the conversation on a possible ordinance or other measures remains open.

"It has been in our dialogue, especially based on what the City of Phoenix has recently put in place," he said. "But in our mind, it really comes down to education."

It's unclear exactly what time the dog and his owner set out in the trail.

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