Dogs rescued by sheriff’s deputy from sweltering car up for adoption

The two dogs rescued by a sheriff’s deputy in Indio from inside a car where the temperature was 134 degrees now need a second rescue after having been relinquished by their owner.

The two terrier mixes were rescued about 2:15 p.m. Monday in the car that was parked outside the Indio courthouse, according to the Riverside County Department of Animal Services.

The two dogs were taken to a veterinary hospital and appeared to be in good condition Monday evening, agency spokesman John Welsh said.

“They likely cooled down during the drive from the courthouse,” he said.

Simba, a female with a fluffy white coat, and Scar, a male with a curly, black coat, were immediately made available for adoption, the agency announced Tuesday.

The unaltered, 9-month-old dogs were being cared for at the Coachella Valley Animal Campus in Thousand Palms, where officials said they would only offer the dogs for adoption as a “package deal to keep them together,” according to a news release from the agency.

The owner, who was not identified, was cited for leaving the dogs unattended in a vehicle under conditions that could endanger their health, despite having relinquished custody, the agency said.

Officials said the temperature in the area at the time of the rescue was near 100 degrees.