Cats rescued from hot car in Menlo Park after concerned citizens call

MENLO PARK, Calif. (KGO) -- Animal Control Officers responded to a call for a car in a parking lot in Menlo Park with two cats inside Wednesday while the owner was at work.

Animal Control says it's not illegal to leave your pets in a car as long as certain conditions are met. The Animal Control Officers measured the temperature inside the car at 90 degrees. They say they can only seize animals from a car at 100 degrees.

"I think it has a lot to do with personal opinion versus what the law actually says when you get into these issues with animals and property you have to be very careful," said Jeff Christner who is a Captain and Manager of Animal Rescue and Control with the Peninsula Humane Society and SPCA.

RELATED: San Rafael police rescue dog from very hot car

The same person who called to report the cats in the hot car also reached out to Dr. Monica Rudiger, the founder of cat rescue group 9 lives.

"I can't do this for everyone my goodness but something compelled me to come down here today and we're going to help

her out," said Dr. Rudiger.

The owner agreed to allow Dr. Rudiger to take the cats to her facility for the day at no charge. Dr. Rudiger later shared video with ABC7 News of them happy and cool.

Animal Control says they have a history with the cats' owner. "We have been out there before. We haven't found any violations," said Christner.

Yesterday, San Rafael PD shared a picture of a dog Marin Humane rescued from a 156 degree car.

Animal Control says it wants concerned citizens to call but also to understand that some people don't have home to leave their pets in.

In this case they say the owner had cooling mats inside the vehicle as well as fans and water. Had Dr. Rutiger not taken the cats, animal control officers say they would have stopped by again to take another temperature reading later in the day.