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Woman Whose Pets Were Found In Hot Truck Faces Charges

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (CBS4) - More than 20 animals that were found in the back of a hot U-Haul without ventilation or water are being cared for at a shelter in northern Colorado.

Holiday Christie, 56, faces charges in the case. She owns the U-Haul and says she was moving from Idaho to Texas with 15 dogs, as well as several cats and pygmy goats.

She stopped at a gas station in Fort Collins on Tuesday when one of the dogs escaped.

Animal control officers said the animals were suffering from heat exhaustion and dehydration and that the temperature inside the vehicle was 106 degrees.

"The dogs were in danger of serious illness or possible death due to dehydration," said Marcie Willms, the Larimer County Humane Society's community relations manager.

Christie was arrested a short time later after. Police said she tried to prevent authorities from seizing the animals and also tried to leave the scene.

Christie remains in a Fort Collins jail. She faces charges of felony animal cruelty and obstruction.

The animals have gone through a health check at the Larimer County Humane Society and are doing okay now. It's not clear if Christie will get the animals back or not.

Animal experts warn that even a few minutes in a hot car with no water can put animals at risk.

LINK: Larimer County Humane Society

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