An animal rescue team responding to a community tip also rescued eight kittens and their mother from the dangerous temperatures of the recent heat wave

An Ohio animal shelter is celebrating the rescue of a sweet dog believed to have been covered in gasoline along with a mother cat and her eight kittens after a community member spotted the animals suffering during the recent heat wave.

According to Spectrum News 1, Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter deputies responded after receiving a voicemail reporting that a dog had been covered in gasoline and was sitting on a resident’s porch in temperatures climbing into the upper 90s.

“Somebody said on the voicemail that they saw a dog get doused in gasoline, and that the dog is currently now on their porch,” Deputy Warden Kayla Wenz told the outlet. “And that day, it was in the 90s, upper 90s outside.”

When wardens arrived, they found the dog, later named Penelope, with matted fur on her face and legs and smelling strongly of gasoline. Officials believe the fuel had also irritated her eyes.

“By the time we got out there, obviously, she was hot,” Wenz recalled. “She was just still sitting on the back porch, instantly just wiggled up to us because she is just so sweet.”

After receiving a bath and plenty of care, officials say Penelope is doing much better, though she is still dealing with a limp that veterinarians are expected to evaluate, according to the shelter.

The call also led rescuers to another group of animals in need.

Although the Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter primarily cares for dogs, Wenz couldn’t leave behind a mother cat and her eight kittens, which were enduring the same sweltering temperatures.

With her supervisor’s approval, the feline family was brought to safety as well.

“One of our deputies took them home until they get old enough to go to rescue,” Wenz said.

The shelter hopes Penelope can eventually be reunited with her owner. If no owner is found and she receives veterinary clearance, she will likely be placed for adoption.

“Our hope is always to reunite dogs with their owners,” External Affairs Manager Jen Huettich explained. “And if not, then we adopt them out.”

Huettich said stories like Penelope’s help illustrate the dedication of the county’s dog wardens, who often work beyond their regular duties to reunite lost pets with their families, adding, “We have deputies who go to Facebook and go to social media lost and found pages, constantly trying to match up dogs with their owners. Always, always looking. And a lot of times that can be in their off-time.”

For Wenz, helping animals like Penelope makes the difficult days worthwhile.

“I couldn’t picture my life not doing something like this,” she shared. “Trust me. I mean, we have hard days, but I feel like every job does. But this is just so rewarding on top of it.”

Source: People