A Georgia woman is accused of causing her dog to suffer a cruel death in a hot car on July 20.
Acworth resident Tanya Lee Kuhlman was charged with animal cruelty after authorities discovered the body of a dog in her car.
Police Spokesperson Corporal Youlanda McIntosh confirmed that the dog was not moving when police arrived at the scene and, since the owner was nowhere to be found, officers had no choice but to break into the car.
The dog was taken to a nearby veterinarian for emergency treatment but it was too late.
“The dog was rushed to a local animal hospital where a veterinarian advised the canine was deceased,” McIntosh said according to CTLN.
McIntosh confirmed that animal control authorities confiscated the body after the incident.
“Cobb County Animal Control arrived and took possession of the canine,” she said.
The incident is still being investigated and anyone with information is invited to contact the Acworth Police Department’s criminal investigation division on 770-974-1232.
The news has attracted mixed responses on social media, with animal lovers wondering how the owner could do such a thing to her canine companion.
Some commented that the heat in cars is unbearably suffocating after just seconds without air conditioning, let alone trying to endure four hours.
Others pleaded with animal owners to leave their pets at home or take them into the store to avoid another senseless death from happening.
It is unclear how many pets have died from heatstroke as a result of being trapped in a hot car in this period.