Hot dogs rescued by shopper

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (WDTN) - A shopper helped rescue two dogs left inside a hot car Wednesday. 

Springfield, Ohio police and Humane Society officials were called to a Target store parking lot after a witness complained that a woman had left two dogs in a car while shopping.

"Absolutely, it's animal cruelty," said James Straley, Executive Director of the Humane Society of Greater Clark County. "No doubt in my mind about that."

Straley said the dogs appeared to be in distress.

"The dogs were in the car with no water, they were panting heavily," he said. "The windows were cracked but there's no breeze today."

Straley said even with your windows rolled down, it could get up to a sweltering 120 degrees in your car within a matter of minutes.

"This is life or death. Put on a fur coat and sit in your car for ten minutes and see how you feel," said Straley.

He said dogs could die from heat stroke, and if they don't die, they could suffer brain damage and other serious illnesses.

Straley said you should leave your pets at home if you run errands. If you do have to take your pets with you, he said a spare key and leave the car running with the air-conditioner on, and lock your doors. He also recommended leaving a bowl of water or ice chips in the car.

In this incident, when police located the dog's owner, they said they gave her a stern warning.