Young dogs trapped in hot car with no water for at least 8 hours

Deputies and an animal control officer Wednesday rescued two young dogs that had been locked in a hot car without water for at least eight hours in Lawndale, according to authorities.

The animals were spotted in the Jeep Cherokee in 14500 block of Larch Avenue on Wednesday morning by a passerby who called officials, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.

One of the dogs was an 8-month-old German shepherd and pit bull mix and the other was a 1-year-old Dachshund and pit bull mix.

“As the animal control officer and deputies tried to free the puppies from the hot vehicle, the puppies tried sticking their noses out the windows that were cracked open,” sheriff’s officials said in a statement.

The vehicle’s owner was not present and deputies were able to unlock the door. There was a water dish in the vehicle, officials said, but “it was empty and had dirt in the bottom.”

The dogs were taken by the Lawndale Animal Services Department to a veterinarian who examined the animals. They were listed in good condition.

Their owner was later cited for leaving the dogs without water. He was identified as Courtney Beach, 24, who lives in Carson, the Sheriff’s Department said.

[Updated 9:51 p.m.: Authorities did not say whether the dogs would be returned to their owner.]

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