Police say pit bull deliberately placed in hot car

Police want to know who left a pit bull to die an agonizing death inside a hot car.

Police told FOX 5 News that Blue, a male pit bull, was found dead inside a car with rolled up windows at an apartment complex on Mayson Turner Road Northwest.

"Someone clearly took this dog, put him in that car, knew how hot it was out… It was, I guess June, it was over 94 degrees, that day so I can't, it must have been deliberate," said Sgt. Greg Lyon with the Atlanta Police Department.

Blue's owner was not home when FOX 5 News stopped by. Neighbors said that they do not know who placed Blue in a hot car or why.

"That's cruelty to animals," said a woman who quickly walked away.

Police said Blue's owner told them he left his dog with a ‘lady friend’ when he went to work. When he returned, someone had placed Blue in a disabled car with rolled up the widows, killing the canine in the brutal heat.

Now police are searching for a couple of persons of interest known only as Sheila and Bree.

"They could be his lady friends or persons he knows or other people in the area that might have some knowledge of what happened that night," said Sgt. Lyon

Police also said it appeared Blue was left tied on a porch; someone then removed the dog, and placed him in the car.

A $2,000 reward is being officered for tips that lead to the apprehension of whoever killed Blue.

“Personally it makes me sick I'm a dog lover and I can't imagine ever doing that to another animal," said Sgt. Lyon.

Police said who ever placed Blue in the hot car faces a felony charge of animal cruelty.

Any information on the case can be submitted anonymously to the Crime Stoppers Atlanta tip line at 404-577-TIPS (8477), online crimestoppersatlanta.org or by texting CSA and the tip to CRIMES (274637).

App users click here for more images and video