Two dog owners have been charged with felony animal cruelty after 11 dogs were found in a parked car on the verge of heat stroke. Oklahoma City police and Animal Welfare officers responded to the scene at Southwest 22nd Street on March 1, where body camera footage released by the police shows the condition of the animals inside the vehicle.
The dogs, including six pit bulls and six puppies approximately two weeks old, were discovered trapped in the car for nearly eight hours, with the windows rolled up, no food or water, and temperatures inside the vehicle reaching over 100 degrees.
Several of the dogs were found to have injuries consistent with dog fighting, including open wounds in various stages of healing and infection. The car itself was reported to be covered in feces, trash, and old clothing.
Police received an anonymous tip regarding the animals. Officers quickly responded to the scene, where they worked alongside Animal Welfare personnel to pull the dogs from the car and transport them to a local shelter for urgent care.
While the older dogs had internal body temperatures up to 104 degrees, the puppies were treated and appeared to be in good condition.
Court documents reveal this was not the first time the owners were warned about the condition of the dogs. Investigators say that the dogs had lived in the car since December, and previous warnings were ignored. This time, however, the situation nearly resulted in the death of the animals due to heatstroke.
The two owners of the dogs have been charged with felony cruelty to animals, and warrants for their arrest have been issued. Investigators say the owners admitted to allowing the dogs to live in the car for months. The rescued dogs are receiving medical treatment and care at the shelter.
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