Puppy Saved From Hot Car, Suspects Charged

BUFORD, GA -- A Georgia couple faces criminal charges after police saved a puppy the pair is accused of leaving in a hot car.

Somsanit Thammavong, 38, and Cala Raeann Franks, 25, both of Demorest, Georgia, are charged with cruelty to animals and possession of marijuana.

Just before 7 p.m. Tuesday, Gwinnett County Police officers were dispatched to a call at the Mall of Georgia, in Buford.

A caller to 911 told the dispatcher that she heard a dog inside a vehicle, panting and crying.

The officers met the caller and mall security next to a black BMW in the mall's parking lot. They could hear the dog crying inside.

Windows of the car were rolled down about two or three inches and, when an officer tried to look inside, he noticed the smell of marijuana, according to a police news release.

He also saw a tan and white puppy hiding under the passenger seat, crying, panting and breathing heavily.

The outdoor temperature at the time was about 90 degrees, police say. An animal control officer that arrived later determined that the temperature inside the car was 98 degrees.

The officer used his expandable baton and broke the passenger side window of the car. Responding officers retrieved the dog, got her some water and put her in an air-conditioned patrol car.

After reviewing parking lot security footage, police determined that the driver had parked the car at about 5 p.m. -- about two hours earlier.

Eventually, Thammavong and Franks came back outside and, according to police, said they'd just gone into the mall for a few minutes.

The puppy, named Coco, was taken to an emergency veterinarian. Police subsequently searched the vehicle and found what they believe to be marijuana, resulting in the additional charge against the pair.

(Photos courtesy Gwinnett County Police Department)