Leaving Animals in Cars July 15, 2010

Yesterday, I went to the grocery store for a few things. When I came out there was a small truck parked in front of my vehicle with a very large dog inside, with the windows cracked. He was panting his tongue was hanging out and he was all wet around his mouth. The dog looked to be a very large Poodle, he had a thick coat. I would say he was 3 feet tall; anyway he looked like he was in distress. I walked over to the car to check it out and there was a car on the other side with people staring at the dog. I  was there for 6 to 7 minutes when another car pulled up and when the man got out.  I noticed it was a police officer, I said is this legal to do this to a dog? He said because the windows were cracked, he was not sure. He called Animal Control to come out and another lady went into the store to find the person who the dog belonged to. The temperature yesterday was in the 90's, in the car it had to be over 100 degrees. Then a man came out of the store, and said it was his and that he does this all the time with his dog. He also, said he would be out in a minute and he walked back in the store. The police officer said he would not leave until the Animal Control got there. He told me I could leave, that he would stay with the dog. I really wish people would realize it's not good for your dog to be in a hot car even for 5 minutes. I just saw a news story where a lady left her little dog in her locked car to run into the store and when she came out, someone had stolen her little dog, she was so upset, she said "it was like her child."