Los Angeles County deputies and Animal Control officials received a call at about 10 a.m. Wednesday after receiving a call about two dogs locked in a hot vehicle.
When Lawndale officials and deputies arrived on scene in the 14500 block of Larch Avenue, they discovered two puppies locked in a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Authorities described one of the dogs as an 8-month-old German Shepherd and Pit Bull mix, and the other as a 1 1/2-year-old Dachshund and Pit Bull mix.
The car owner, identified as 24-year-old Courtney Beach, was nowhere to be found, so the deputies had to unlock the car and set the dogs free.
Lawndale Municipal Services Manager Debbie Holland said the car smelled strongly of urine when the door was opened. The windows were cracked open and there was a water dish in the SUV, but it was empty and had dirt in it.
Animal control officers took the puppies to an animal hospital for an examination. They received their shots and are in good condition.
Beach was issued a citation for leaving the puppies unattended in a vehicle without water.
