Officer adopts dog who helped save from hot car a month ago: "Never be neglected again"

A poor pooch was found inside a hot car on Manhattan’s Upper East Side on June 18. Officers rushed to the scene after learning the animal had been trapped inside for over 2 hours. On June 18, the 19th Precinct tweeted about how NYPD officers helped rescue the dog, stating: Hot car, hot dog rescue—thanks to caring NYers who saw this pup locked in a car for over 2 hours & called 911! Our cops responded discovering the car off, windows shut & distressed dog. They broke the window, got pup out & off to a vet for care. Criminal investigation continues. The video posted also shows how officers had to break open the window of the car to get the animal out. Cops provided the animal with water and dog treats as well.

The dog was later taken to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals after his rescue. The story turns out even better as the sweet animal ended up finding a forever home with one of his rescuers! “This pup will never be neglected again! A month ago, this sweet doggo was rescued after his owner left him in his hot locked car for hours; yesterday, one of [its] rescuers, Officer Maharaj, adopted him!” the NYPD 19th Precinct tweeted on Wednesday before adding, “Thank you @ASPCA for taking such good care of this lucky pup!”

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty, leaving an animal in a hot car can result in a fatal heat stroke. It is also considered illegal in several states. The organization also points out that the car can overheat even if the window is left open an inch or two. If you suspect that your dog is suffering from a heat stroke, some of the signs to look out for include: excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor and collapse. D. Brian Hougentogler at K. Vet Animal Care in Greensburg tells KDKA that putting an animal in the car can cause their temperatures to rise. "As their temperatures go up, they're going to try to release that heat. The only way to release that heat is panting and that's not an efficient mode. The ones that are going to have it the hardest are the ones with the flat faces: the bulldogs, Shih Tzu and Pekinese. They're the ones that we see the most heat-related injuries," Hougentogler said. The best thing to do when it's too hot outside is to leave your animals at home.

Cover Image Source: Twitter | NYPD 19th Precinct