Roswell Police are getting kudos from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) for rescuing dogs from hot cars in two cases on June 16. The animal rights group recognized the department with its "Compassionate Police Department" award.
Officers Bill Lowe and Michael Shrout responded to the calls last month and pulled the animals out of the vehicles at a local shopping center, cooling them off with water from a hose and hydrating them. Neither dog apparently suffered any lasting ill effects.
Police said that in one case the outside temperature had reached 97 degrees and the temperature inside the car was 150 degrees, even though a front window was cracked. The department's Facebook page said in one of the cases, the owner was charged with cruelty to animals.
Officials said that closed-car temperatures can soar to unbearable heights within minutes, and that the heat is especially tough on dogs because they can only cool themselves by panting.
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