Duluth Police rescue puppy left in hot car by owner

DULUTH, Ga. — A Duluth police officer was in the right place at the right time Monday afternoon to help a puppy locked inside a car on a very hot day.

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Police say Officer Howell was flagged down by an employee at the Walmart on Pleasant Hill Road.

Officer Howell approached the car and could hear and see the dog in distress. Howell was able to use a tool to unlock the car door and get the dog out of the blistering heat.

Shortly after the call, Sgt. Jill Manders showed up to help Howell give the dog water to help cool the pup down.

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According to police reports, the dog’s owner came out shortly after the rescue and told the officers she had only been inside the store for a short period of time.

Police said a Walmart employee was able to provide a timestamp showing when the owner parked and entered the store. The timestamp showed she had been in the store nearly an hour while the dog waited in the car.

Officers say temperatures inside the car soared as high as 119 degrees.

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Duluth police have not released the name of the woman who owned the dog, but did say she was facing charges from Gwinnett County Animal Control.

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