Woman Rescues Dog Left Alone In Hot Car - DC Breaking Local News Weather Sports FOX 5 WTTG

Katie Neuman made a daring decision Saturday when she was at Christiana Town Center in Delaware. She was trying to rescue a puppy from the stifling heat. It was 91 degrees that day. But Neuman says it felt like 100 degrees. She walked past a car and  heard a noise that almost made her heart stop.

"He was barking and jumping all over the car," says Neuman.

That noise was coming from a Yorkie Chihuahua that someone left alone in a car.

"It seemed like he was very anxious and hot."

Neuman says she rushed into a shoe store nearby hoping they would make an announcement incase the owner was inside but she says they wouldn't.

"I spent about 45 minutes in the store. When I came out and the dog was still in the car but he wasn't jumping around. He was looking lethargic, panting and laying on the seat," Neuman said.

So she waited for another 45 minutes she says, but the owner still hadn't returned. Out of desperation, she pulled the door handle and to her surprise, it was unlocked.

"The puppy jumped out in my arms," said Neuman. "His little heart was racing."

That's when she made the bold decision to leave a note on the car with her number and take the pup home with her to Philadelphia. The owners picked it up the next day. The owners tell Fox 29 they were only in the store for a short time, not two to three hours as Neuman claimed. Neuman said she only gave the dog back after she talked to DE State Police a few hours later.

"Police told me that they would press charges against me for theft for taking the dog out of the car."

Neuman says she stands by everything she did.

"Just for his well being," she said. 

The DE SPCA says if you see an animal left alone in a hot car call the SPCA for an animal control officer to come out or call 9-1-1.