Sikeston officers break vehicle's window to get dogs

SIKESTON, Mo. — Two dogs were rescued after being locked in a hot, parked vehicle in Sikeston.

About 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, an officer with the Sikeston Department of Public Safety responded to a report of animal cruelty in the parking lot of Ferguson Medical Group, 1012 N. Main St.

The officer found a parked vehicle turned off, with all four windows barely rolled down, according to reports.

“One dog was seen lying in the front passenger seat and breathing very heavily,” said Capt. Bill Mygatt of Sikeston DPS.

“Another dog was in the back seat, lying with its head halfway under the driver’s seat. The officer saw the dog breathing heavily but couldn’t see its head.”

The temperature at the time was 97 degrees, with a heat index of at least 110 degrees.

Officials tried to unlock the vehicle, to no avail, and contacted Lowe’s to unlock the vehicle.

“The dogs’ breathing got worse, and they couldn’t wait any longer. They broke out the windows to free the dogs,” Mygatt said.

The dogs were turned over to the animal shelter.

The officer contacted the complainant, who said the vehicle was parked in the lot before she arrived, and she was out in her vehicle for 30 minutes when she heard a dog barking. She then saw the dogs inside the vehicle and called the police.

The vehicle was towed. DPS never was able to make contact with the owner, Mygatt said.

Pertinent address:

1012 N. Main St., Sikeston, Mo.