Dog rescued from hot car outside Valparaiso Walmart

VALPARAISO, Ind. (WLS) -- A dog left inside a locked vehicle outside a Walmart store in Valparaiso, Ind., was rescued by police and animal control, officials said.

Police said the windows of the vehicle were rolled down a bit, but the panting dog appeared to be in distress. Witnesses said the dog had been inside the car for about an hour, and attempts to reach the owner inside the store didn't work.

Officials unlocked the door and took the dog out of the hot vehicle. Animal Control gave the animal water, and now has possession of the dog.

The owner was located and an investigation is underway.

Officials remind dog owners that leaving an animal inside a car - even with the windows rolled down - can be deadly. "An outside temperature of 78 degrees reaches 120 degrees inside a vehicle in just 30 minutes," according to the Valparaiso Police Department.