A Kansas police department credited with saving the life of a dog outside of a business is receiving an award. A Compassionate Police Department Award is on its way from PETA to the Arkansas City Police Department.

Earlier this month two members of the department were credited with saving the life of a dog outside of a business. Sergeant Jason Legleiter and Officer Wade Hammond were at a Walmart store for a shoplifting case, when a store employee saw a dog hanging by his leash outside of a truck. Authorities say that the dog had essentially hung himself. The dog was hanging motionless and appeared to be deceased.

Sergeant Legleiter quickly used his patrol duty knife to cut the dog down.

Officer Hammond began tending to the dog’s care as the dog lay on the ground and was unresponsive. Officer Hammond helped the dog breathe by removing the constricting collar and applying pressure intermittently to the dog’s side.

After several minutes, the dog became more and more responsive and showed signs of life little by little. Eventually, the dog appeared to have fully recovered from the incident and was able to stand under his own power.

“These police officers acted with no time to lose, and their quick thinking saved this dog from a horrific death,” says PETA Senior Vice President of Communications Lisa Lange. “PETA reminds everyone never to leave a dog tied up in a vehicle or wearing a leash or choke collar, as fatal accidents can happen in the blink of an eye.”

In addition, PETA-whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”-reminds all dog guardians never to leave a dog tethered outside in the summer heat, especially in a car, which can quickly become a death trap. On a 78-degree day, the temperature inside a parked car can soar to between 100 and 120 degrees in just minutes, and on a 90-degree day, the interior temperature can reach as high as 160 degrees in less than 10 minutes.

The Arkansas City Police Department will receive a framed certificate and a box of vegan cookies.