Dog Rescued From Hot Car in Forsyth County, Owner Arrested

A small dog was rescued from a parked car in Forsyth County after a bystander spotted the animal in distress and called for help, according to a report from the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. The dog’s owner was arrested and charged with cruelty to animals.

🐾 Why It Matters: Leaving pets in hot cars can quickly turn deadly, even with windows cracked.

🚨 What Happened: Deputies responded to a parking lot on Peachtree Parkway in Suwanee on July 11 after a bystander noticed a small dog locked inside a car that was turned off and not running. According to the sheriff’s office report, the bystander saw the dog panting heavily and foaming at the mouth. The bystander reached through a partially open window, unlocked the door, removed the dog, and called 911.

• Animal Control measured the temperature inside the car at 113 degrees, despite the outside temperature being about 89 degrees.
• The dog, a 15-year-old Chihuahua-Dachshund mix, was taken into the care of Animal Control.

👮 Between the Lines: The dog’s owner told deputies she had left the animal in the car for about an hour while getting a haircut inside a nearby salon. She said she believed the temperature was safe because the windows were cracked and someone inside the salon told her it was 83 degrees outside. The sheriff’s office report states the actual outside temperature was closer to 89 degrees.

• The owner was arrested at the scene and charged with cruelty to animals, according to the sheriff’s office.
• The dog was described as being in severe distress but the report does not indicate its current condition.

🌡️ The Big Picture: Georgia law makes it a crime to leave animals in conditions that could cause them harm. Even on days that don’t feel dangerously hot, temperatures inside cars can rise quickly and put pets at risk. Animal advocates and law enforcement urge pet owners to never leave animals unattended in vehicles, even for short periods.

The Sources:
Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.

⚠️ Reminder: Crime articles contain only charges and information from police reports and law enforcement statements. Suspects and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.