Ind. Officer Saves Dog Twice, Adopting Pup After Rescuing Her from a Potential Hot Car Death

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department PSO S. Poe. adopted the German Shepherd he rescued days before

This dog was rescued by this public safety officer — twice!

Officer S. Poe, an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Public Safety Officer, rescued a German Shepherd from a hot car in June. Days after the rescue, he looked into adopting her and was ultimately able to give her a new home with him.

In a statement shared with PEOPLE, Office Poe said meeting the dog, named Abby, caught him off guard. "I definitely didn’t show up to work that day expecting to adopt a dog," he explained. "I met her on that run and it’s like we both just knew."

"I immediately started to ask about adopting her, and a little over a week later I took her home. We definitely rescued each other," he added.

Poe previously told local news outlet KWCH that when he "switched her collar, and it was like Abby knew she was home for good."

Related: Chance Lunch Delivery Leads to Dog Adoption at Virginia Shelter: 'Love at First Sight'

On June 20, the German Shepherd, along with a pit bull and a cat, were locked in a Chevrolet Sedan parked at the Intown Suites Hotel, per local news outlet WISH-TV. The IMPD was contacted following reports of a dog chained up and dead in a car.

The hotel manager said that he “was alerted to the vehicle by the horn honking from the dog inside the vehicle," per WISH-TV.

Upon the police's arrival, the pit bull had died while the cat and German Shepherd were taken away to cool down and hydrate. KWCH reports that the animals were believed to be in the vehicle for three hours without water.

Norma Light and Charles Thomas, who left the animals in the car, said that the hotel did not allow pets inside, only service animals. Thomas, 55, was arrested for felony animal cruelty-kill, per WISH-TV. Light, 74, was charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty.

Days after the incident, Poe adopted the German Shepherd, the IMPD Northwest District shared in a Facebook update on Saturday, June 29.

"In a touching display of humanity, IMPD Public Safety Officer (PSO) Poe has given a second chance at happiness to a dog that was left to suffer in a hot vehicle," the post began, recapping the sad circumstances the animals were left in.

Related: The World's Cutest Rescue Dog Contest Is Looking for Its Next Adorable Adopted Winner — Enter Now!

Following the incident, PSO Poe "reached out to Indianapolis Animal Care Services inquiring on how to adopt the resilient German Shepherd" and adopted Abby.

"Abby is already at her new FURever home and is in great hands. PSO Poe mentioned, 'I switched her collar, and it was like Abby knew she was home for good.'"

The IMPD reminded citizens to take extra caution with their pets when it comes to extreme temperatures. "We want to take this moment [to] remind residents of the city ordinance that states you need to bring your pets inside when it’s over 90 degrees outside or when there’s a heat advisory in effect," the department's Facebook post read.

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