Passersby Rescue Husky From Parked Car: Cops

JOLIET, IL — A passerby pulled a black and white husky from a car parked outside the Plainfield Road Target Sunday morning, police said.

A woman spotted the dog in a 2015 Ford Escape about 11 a.m. and went inside Target to alert store personnel, police said. By the time she got back out, she reportedly found a man had taken the dog out of the car and was holding it on a leash.

The temperature at the time was 84 degrees, police said.

The man told the woman he had to go to work, so he handed off the dog and left, according to police, who said they later learned the dog was named Puck.

Puck’s owner, 39-year-old Nerissa Huegel of Bolingbrook, showed up shortly after 11:20 a.m. and claimed she was only in Target for eight minutes, police said. Huegel also reportedly told officers she left the air conditioner running, and also provisioned the vehicle with water and treats.

Huegel still got a ticket charging her with animal cruelty.