Dogs rescued from a vehicle cruise to quick adoptions at OC Animal Care shelter

A dozen dogs rescued from an unattended vehicle by OC Animal Care officials earlier this month were showcased for adoption for the first time on Wednesday, Aug. 23, at the county shelter and most went home at the end of the day with their forever families.

An OC Animal Care officer responded on Aug. 6 to an unattended vehicle where 14 dogs were found inside on the hot day, officials said. The dogs were removed and taken to the shelter in Tustin for medical attention.

People make their way to OC Animal Care’s, Littles on the Lawn, adoption event on Wednesday afternoon, August 23, 2023, in Tustin. Dogs and puppies that were found inside an unattended vehicle in early August were up for adoption. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Max, one of the dogs and puppies that were found inside an unattended vehicle in early August, is adopted by Tiffany Nguyen and Jerry Tran of Huntington Beach during OC Animal Care’s, Littles on the Lawn, adoption event on Wednesday afternoon, August 23, 2023, in Tustin. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Linda Morales, left, and her brother, Xzavier Morales, of Anaheim, get to know their new dog, Charlie, during OC Animal Care’s, Littles on the Lawn, adoption event on Wednesday afternoon, August 23, 2023, in Tustin. Dogs and puppies that were found inside an unattended vehicle in early August were up for adoption. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Erwin Ramos, left, and Denise Ponce, right, of Lawndale, get to know, Toby, who they just adopted during OC Animal Care’s, Littles on the Lawn, adoption event on Wednesday afternoon, August 23, 2023, in Tustin. Dogs and puppies that were found inside an unattended vehicle in early August were up for adoption. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Tiffany Nguyen, left, and Jerry Tran of Huntington Beach get to know their new dog, Max, during OC Animal Care’s, Littles on the Lawn, adoption event on Wednesday afternoon, August 23, 2023, in Tustin. Dogs and puppies that were found inside an unattended vehicle in early August were up for adoption. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Mason Giraldin, 8, of Midway City holds his new dog during OC Animal Care’s, Littles on the Lawn, adoption event on Wednesday afternoon, August 23, 2023, in Tustin. Dogs and puppies that were found inside an unattended vehicle in early August were up for adoption. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The first 12 of the rescued dogs have completed their medical treatments, including being spayed or neutered and getting their vaccinations and microchips. On Wednesdays, the shelter is holding a new adoption program, Littles on the Lawn, where potential adopters can mingle with available dogs and have one-on-one meet-and-greet without scheduling an appointment. The recently rescued dogs were included in this week’s event.

“We’re very excited that 11 of 12 dogs were adopted,” Jackie Tran, public information officer at OC Animal Care, said, adding that the remaining two dogs not up for adoption are still undergoing medical treatment.

“The condition they came in was very sad,” Tran said of the rescued dogs, “but they were able to come in, receive the treatment that they needed, and have now found their happy ending.”

As a reminder, the OC Animal Care said pet owners should never leave pets unattended in a vehicle, even with the windows cracked, as it can take just a few minutes for the temperature inside a car to become dangerous to pets. If it is 80 degrees outside, the temperature inside a car can rise to 104 degrees after just 10 minutes and 114 degrees after 30 minutes, officials said.

The shelter’s summer adoption programs, Littles on the Lawn and Kennel Connection, are hosted from 2 to 4:30 p.m. every Wednesday and Saturday at the OC Animal Care shelter, 1630 Victory Road, Tustin. Information: ocpetinfo.com.

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