Animal cruelty investigation underway after dog left in hot car in Cornelius

North Carolina Police Officer Condemned Good Samaritan Who Rescued Dog Locked in Hot Car. He's Now Under Investigation

A woman who saved a dog from a hot car in North Carolina is being applauded online—while the responding officer who scolded her is now under investigation.

Driver charged for opening car door to save a life - they broke little-known law

A WOMAN landed herself in deep water after opening a stranger’s car door in a bizarre little-known law. Suzanne Vella of Cornelius, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, was rightly concerned when she saw a dog panting inside a hot car parked in a shopping center parking lot. WBTVSuzanne Vella was left stunned when she unknowingly broke the law to help a dog trapped inside a hot car[/caption] WBTVVella filmed the moment she found the dog in a park…

Cornelius Police investigating woman reporting dog being left in pickup truck, confrontation with officer

CORNELIUS, NC (QUEEN CITY NEWS) -- An incident is under investigation in Cornelius after a woman reportedly discovered a dog left alone in a parking lot, and broke into the vehicle to help.  According to the Cornelius Police Department, officers responded on June 7 to a parking lot off West Catawba Avenue at 2:18 p.m. regarding a dog in a car. The officer arrived at 2:26 p.m.  No Swim Advisory issued for algae bloom found in Lake Norman cov…

Animal cruelty investigation underway after dog left in hot car in Cornelius

Cornelius police are conducting separate investigations into a dog owner and one of its officers following an incident involving a dog left in a hot car.

Woman Rescues Dog From Scorching Hot Car, Then Faces Police Backlash

On a sweltering 90-degree day in Cornelius, North Carolina, Suzanne Vella was walking through a shopping center parking lot when she spotted a troubling sight—a dog panting heavily inside a locked car. Concerned for the animal’s safety, Vella acted fast. She searched nearby stores for the car’s owner and called 911. But with time ticking and the dog clearly in distress, she made a snap decision that would stir debate: she opened the car door, wh…

Police will reinforce training after incident involving dog in a hot vehicle

June 17. [Updated] The Cornelius Police Dept. is “reinforcing our training procedures to ensure that all personnel respond professionally, respectfully, and with empathy in every situation.” Including those with dogs and concerned citizens. A June 7 incident is under investigation after a woman reported a dog left alone in the Gold’s Gym shopping center parking […]