An Indianapolis, Ind., police officer’s routine day took an unexpected turn when he encountered a life-threatening situation involving several animals locked in a hot car. What happened next was a series of events that not only saved a German Shepherd’s life but also led to the officer gaining a new furry family member.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s Officer S. Poe first met the dog, Abby, during a call about animals trapped inside a car at a local hotel. The hotel’s manager said that the only reason he found the animals was because the dog began was brought to his attention by the sound of the dog’s horn honking from inside the vehicle.
Officers arrived at the Intown Suites Hotel and found a Chevrolet Sedan parked in the lot. According to local news outlet WISH-TV, the police found a German Shepherd, a pit bull and a cat inside the vehicle, which had been parked in the sweltering heat for more than three hours without water. Upon arrival, the officers tragically discovered the pit bull had died, while the cat and the German Shepherd were still alive.
Abby relaxes after being rescued from a locked car in extremely hot weather. Photo courtesy of IMPD
Poe described the circumstances that led to the rescue. “I definitely didn’t show up to work that day expecting to adopt a dog,” he told local reporters. “I met her on that run and it’s like we both just knew.” Following the rescue, Officer Poe quickly became attached to the German Shepherd and sought to adopt her.
I immediately started to ask about adopting her, and a little over a week later I took her home. We definitely rescued each other,” he added.
Norma Light, 74, and Charles Thomas, 55, were responsible for leaving the animals in the car. According to WISH-TV, Thomas was arrested for felony animal cruelty, while Light faced misdemeanor animal cruelty charges. They claimed that the hotel only allowed service animals, which led them to leave the pets in the car.
Abby with Officer Poe. Photo courtesy of IMPD
In a statement to local news outlet KWCH, Poe recalled the moment he switched Abby’s collar: “It was like Abby knew she was home for good.” Days after the rescue, Poe formally adopted Abby. The IMPD Northwest District shared this update on their Facebook page. The post highlighted the sad circumstances of the animals’ plight and praised Poe for his actions, describing his adoption of Abby as a “touching display of humanity.”
The IMPD Facebook post also served as a reminder for pet owners about the dangers of leaving animals in hot cars. “We want to take this moment [to] remind residents of the city ordinance that states you need to bring your pets inside when it’s over 90 degrees outside or when there’s a heat advisory in effect,” the department stated.
Thanks to the kind-hearted Officer Poe, Abby got her second chance at a good life and her future is now brighter than ever. Watch below for a look at this amazing duo!
