News

WTF? Army Veteran Who Saved A Dog Inside A Hot Car Gets Arrested

by Gillian Fuller

When Michael Hammons saw a small dog trapped and panting in a hot car, he didn't think twice about breaking the window to rescue the animal: It was the right thing to do.

Unfortunately, the dog's owner disagreed, and Hammons was reportedly arrested for criminal trespassing.

Georgia law states anyone can break a car window to save a child or adult in distress, but there is no mention of animal safety.

Several passersby noticed the small Pomeranian mix trapped inside the parked Mustang. Instead of waiting for the police, however, Hammons smashed the car window to rescue the pup and brought it to a shaded area to give it water.

Hammons said,

I knew there'd be consequences, but it didn't matter. Glass, they make new glass every day, but they could never replace that dog.

The Army vet, who reportedly suffers from PTSD, continued,

I've seen enough death and destruction. And I didn't want anything else to happen if I could prevent it.

He explained,

I personally felt the heat in the car; I saw the dog panting. This dog was in distress.

When the 22-year-old owner of the car returned, she was reportedly so angry, she insisted the police arrest Hammons.

Chief Deputy Lee Weems admitted,

We didn't want to charge him, but he told us he broke the windows, and when we have a victim there saying she wants him charged, we had no other choice.

Still, he added, Hammons did the right thing.

Weems said,

If it is 80 degrees outside, within 30 minutes, it'll be 114 degrees inside a vehicle, even with the windows cracked.

It is unclear if Hammons will be convicted of his charge, but the owner was cited by animal control for her reckless behavior.

Here's hoping she learned her lesson and never leaves her pooch to suffer in a scorching car again.

Citations: Army Veteran Breaks Window To Save Dog From Hot Car Gets Arrested (The Huffington Post)