LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A Las Vegas Metropolitan Police officer turned the life-or-death rescue of a dog from a sweltering car into a heartwarming adoption tale.
In a post on the LVMPD X account, Officer Kevin Borja recounted the incident, saying that he felt an instant connection with the distressed animal.
The rescue unfolded during a scorching Las Vegas day in June when temperatures soared to 112 degrees. Borja and his partner were walking back to their patrol cars after assisting with a medical call when a tourist alerted them to a dog whining inside a nearby parked vehicle, the officer explained.
“As we got closer, we could hear the dog whining,” Borja said. Inside the car, they found the small dog confined to an open box with no collar or water. The windows were cracked no more than half an inch, leaving the dog vulnerable to the intense heat, Borja explained.
Borja and his partner acted swiftly. After breaking a window to unlock the car, Borja retrieved the overheated dog and sought water from a nearby casino valet.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Borja said. “The dog went through nearly a whole 12-ounce cup of water.”
Following the rescue, the dog was taken to a local animal shelter for care. But Borja said he couldn’t shake the bond he felt. He began inquiring about adoption.
“I probably checked in every day, calling the shelter and even going there,” Borja said. On the day the dog became available for adoption, Borja and his wife arrived three hours before the shelter opened, eager to bring the dog home.
“I hoped that if he couldn’t come home with me, he’d at least go to a good home,” Borja said. His persistence paid off, however, as Borja recalled meeting another potential adopter in line. “It’s a first-come, first-serve basis,” Borja recalled, noting that he was first in line to pick up the pup.
Ultimately, Borja and his wife welcomed the rescued dog, now named Theodore, a cocker spaniel puppy, into their family. Reflecting on the experience, Borja expressed gratitude. “Every day, I think about how much better his life is now,” he said.
