On a 90-plus degree day in Florida, a police officer smashed out a car’s window to save a crying little puppy, reminding us yet again that leaving babies—even furry ones—in hot cars is just not okay.
Pensacola Police officer Anthony Giorgio got a call on Sunday telling him about a dog locked in a hot car in a mall parking lot, ABC13 reports. When Giorgio—a self proclaimed dog-lover—got to the scene, the puppy was crying, so after a short talk with his sergeant, Giorgio forced his way in.
Luckily, the dog was under the seat, protected from the shards of glass scattered by the officer’s baton. In the end, the little pup survived, got some water and air conditioning in the patrol car, and was returned to its owner (in part, because animal services wanted to make sure the young puppy got back to its mother).
The Pensacola Police Department wasn’t too thrilled with the situation, warning people not to leave their pooches in cars, especially if they wanted to keep their windows intact:
Don’t. Just don’t. If you leave your dog in a hot car and that dog is suffering, we will do whatever we have to do to free him. Or her. Doesn’t matter, we like both kinds of dogs. We will drive your pooch to the caring folks at the Escambia County Animal Shelter and we will drop you off with the caring folks at the Escambia County Detention Facility. You will both receive attention, food, and shelter, albeit different kinds. So, don’t.
The owners were cited for Cruelty to an Animal and will have to pay a $150. But they’ve still got that little pup to bring them joy, so what’s a measly $150?