Amy McPhail, Registered Veterinary Technician at Lake City Animal Clinic; Jennifer Manes, Practice Manager at Lake City Animal Clinic; Sgt. Chad Hill, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department; Officer Matt Owens, Pierceton Police Department; Chief Joe Hawn, Winona Lake Police Department; Steve Rogers, Assistant Store Manager at Lowe’s of Warsaw; and Paul Boyd, Department Manager, Lowe’s of Warsaw. (Photo Provided)

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — With the help of a caring and observant resident, area pets have some extra help when it comes to being found locked inside hot vehicles.

In the summer of 2014, Dr. Carl Carlton of Lake City Animal Clinic witnessed an animal left inside a vehicle. She immediately notified authorities, but upon the officer’s arrival, had to wait for an additional officer to arrive because they did not have the proper equipment to test the heat index inside the vehicle.

That day, Dr. Carlton immediately went to Lowe’s to purchase all of the infrared thermometers they had in stock. Around 30 thermometers were donated to local officers that day in 2014.

Yesterday, Sept. 13 more thermometers were donated. The manufacturer of the thermometers, General Tool & Instrument, New York and Lowe’s both donated 20 instruments through their community outreach programs. New York, who has a community outreach program. Now, with the help of Dr. Carlton, all local officers should have an infrared thermometer in their possession, eliminating the need to wait for an equipped officers.

According to PETA, on a 78-degree day, the temperature inside a parked car can soar to between 100 and 120 degrees in just minutes, and on a 90-degree day, the interior temperature can reach as high as 160 degrees in less than 10 minutes.

The extra minutes that local officers have potentially gained due to these donations can help save the lives of local pets.