Police were forced to smash a car window to rescue a dog from scorching 115F (46C) temperatures in Sarasota, Florida.
Officers were called to a car park on University Parkway on Tuesday following reports of a dog locked inside a car.
A dog, appearing faint, was found inside with no trace of its owner. According to police, the temperature inside was 115F (46C).
Matthew Grochowski, an officer for the Sarasota Police Department, was filmed smashing the window of the car in body camera footage of the incident, shared to Facebook on Friday.
“It’s panting and and drooling all over the place”, the officer says in the footage.
“Oh my god he’s starting to go down, that’s not good,” another officer, from the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office Animal Services, adds.
With the backing of Sgt Louis Buck, the officer was filmed striking a back window of the car, and smashed it on the third try, with glass falling to the floor.
“It’s OK buddy,” the officer tells the dog, which appeared to be a form of pit bull. “Come on, good boy.”
The dog was taken from the back of the car, and into an awaiting kennel by Sarasota animal services.
Following the incident, the Sarasota Police Department issued a warning for dog owners not to lock animals inside cars.
“Please don’t leave pets in hot cars,” said the post, “[and] always remember to look before you lock for pets, children and elderly loved ones.”
The owner of the dog was issued with two citations by Animal Services, who returned the dog.
Watch how police seize dangerous dogs in new bodycam footage
West Midlands Police have released footage of how officers seize dangerous dogs.
The force says its team of dangerous dog handlers has attended more than 800 incidents involving an out-of-control dog between 1 April and 31 July this year and seized 96 suspected dangerous dogs.
Data released by West Midlands Police showed that they received 1002 reports of crime violating the Dangerous Dogs Act in 2023, with three reports resulting in a charge or summons.
Footage shared by the force shows officers removing a dog from a property.
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