2 Puppies Rescued From Hot Car In Lawndale

LAWNDALE (CBSLA.com) — Two puppies were rescued from a hot car in Lawndale Wednesday.

Officials said the puppies were locked in a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee  -- that reeked of urine --  and found with an empty water dish.

Animal Control officers with the city of Lawndale said they received a call about the puppies about 10 a.m. Wednesday when it was about 70 degrees outside but much warmer in the vehicle.

The car, with the windows also rolled all the way up, was located in the 14500 block of Larch Avenue.

"People always equate it to being in an oven. The sun beating on the windows of the car amplifies the heat," says Deborah Holland of Lawndale Animal Control.

The puppies were described as an 8-month-old German Shepherd/Pit Bull mix and a 1 ½ -year-old Dachshund/Pit Bull mix.

Animal Control officers said the puppies were extremely affectionate and stuck their noses out of the Cherokee's windows as they were cracked open.

"Both puppies appeared to be happy to be out of the hot vehicle," Lieutenant John Hocking told KCAL9's Andrea Fujii. "They were just excited to see us. They were in that car for a long time."

The puppies' owner, Courtney Beach, 24, of Carson, was eventually located and cited.

Officers concluded he had left the puppies in the vehicle for at least eight hours. He told them he was staying overnight at a friend's house and the friend didn't want the puppies inside.

Animal Control took the puppies to a local veterinarian animal hospital to have them examined. The puppies received their shots and are in good condition. They were later returned to Beach.

"Please do not leave your animals in a hot vehicle. It could be deadly to your pet," Hocking said.

Beach faces a $100 fine for leaving the dogs unattended, according to Fujii.