Police arrest Busch Gardens tourist after finding dog in hot car

TAMPA — Police arrested a 41-year-old tourist Tuesday, saying he left a small dog in a sport-utility vehicle without water in the Busch Gardens parking lot.

Marius Ioan Molnar of Parkfield, Ill., came back to his 1999 Mercedes-Benz sport utility vehicle to find police and Hills­borough County Animal Services had removed the dog from the 90-degree heat of the car's interior and were taking it for treatment at an animal hospital, Tampa police said.

The dog had a 105.8 degree temperature, police said.

Molnar, who was in Tampa for spring break, was charged with cruelty to animals and held at the Hillsborough County Jail on $2,000 bail.

Police caution visitors that even in mild weather conditions, animals should not be left in the car because rapid changes in temperature can kill them.