Missouri: Kansas City Royals fans break into hot car to rescue a puppy in sweltering 100-degree heat and the callous owner never even returned to collect it

MISSOURI -- A puppy was rescued at a baseball game on Sunday afternoon after being left in a boiling hot car, in 100 degree heat, for several hours.

Brothers Michael Warner and Josh Lee, along with Lee's wife and five-year-old son knew something was amiss upon hearing whimpering coming from the inside of a parked car.

Josh immediately called 911, and shortly thereafter, stadium personnel worked with Michael to remove the dog from the car.

A car window was open slightly allowing Michael to pull it down further and get his arm inside to open the door.

Back on the field it was still  a 1-1 game in the eighth inning with the Detroit Tigers in a heated battle to split the series with the Royals with the game heading into overtime.

'With this being extra innings, easily could have been five hours,' said Royals Director of Guest Experience Anthony Mozzicato to KSHB.

The dog could well have been waiting for at least another hour as the 13-inning game continued.

'The guest that spotted this dog should be really proud for letting us know,' he said.

'Once we got the back door open where the puppy was, he came running out so fast,' Michael told Today. 'He was so happy to just see people and be out of that hot car.'

Once the little dog was finally freed, a Royal's employee took the puppy to an air conditioned room inside the stadium, where he was given water and game day staff began to play with him.

After the rescue, a Royals staff member waited for the owner by the car, but bizarrely they never showed up.

A note was left for the owner so that they would know where to come and collect the pooch, but instead they just took off home.

Another team employee took the puppy home overnight before giving it to the KC Pet Project shelter opened Monday.

The pup, who is between 12 and 16 weeks old, was adopted by a new family on Monday.

'When it's 90 degrees outside, it takes a matter of minutes for it to be 120 degrees in your car. And that's even with windows partially rolled down,' said KC Pet Project CEO Teresa Johnson.

Kansas City has now has launched an animal cruelty investigation into the matter. If convicted, the dog’s owner could face up to 180 days in prison and a $1,000 fine.

 

 

(Daily mail - June 22, 2016)