This week, under the blazing Florida sun, officers from the Bradenton Police Department responded to a distressing report: a small dog was found locked inside a parked car with no owner in sight.

The exact time the dog had been trapped in the vehicle remains unknown. However, with outside temperatures soaring to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, the interior of the car quickly became dangerously hot, potentially lethal for the tiny dog inside.

The police department reported that the car wasn’t running and the windows were cracked less than an inch. The dog appeared distressed, and the owner was nowhere to be found.

Officers arriving on the scene could hear the faint whimpers of the dog, indicating the desperate situation inside. Time was running out, and the officers knew they had to act quickly. The heart-pounding moment was captured by an officer’s body camera, showing the urgency and compassion in their actions.

“The temperature inside the vehicle was much higher than 90 degrees, and it seemed the dog had been left alone for quite some time,” the police department added.

Thankfully, the small dog was rescued just in time.

The department noted, “The poor pup gulped down a liter of water before being taken for a checkup.”

Authorities later identified the dog’s owner, but Animal Control is currently caring for the dog as the investigation continues.

In Florida, leaving pets in parked cars is classified as animal cruelty. Sadly, hundreds of pets suffer fatal consequences each year from being left in hot vehicles. To prevent such tragedies, many states have passed laws allowing bystanders to rescue animals from hot cars without fear of legal repercussions.

For a comprehensive guide on state laws regarding the rescue of pets from parked vehicles, click here.