Merced police: 2 women face charges after puppy left in hot car

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Two young women are facing animal cruelty charges in the North Valley. Merced police say the women left a puppy in a hot car in the Walmart parking lot on Loughborough Drive near Olive Avenue Sunday afternoon.

Officers found the 3-month-old terrier in the locked vehicle with one window down just a few inches. Investigators say the exterior temperature at the time was 100 degrees, and it was much hotter than that inside the car.

Police cited and released Rosie Bernardino, 20, and Maria Contreras, 18, at the scene. The puppy was checked by animal control and turned back over to the owners.