ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Police have rescued a dog that was found hanging by its leash from the handle of a parked truck in southern Kansas.

Arkansas City police Sgt. Jason Legleiter and Officer Wade Hammond were at a Wal-Mart for a shoplifting case Friday when a store employee saw that the dog had essentially hung itself. The dog was motionless and appeared to be dead.

Legleiter used his patrol duty knife to cut the dog down, while Hammond helped the dog breathe by removing the constricting collar and applying intermittent pressure to the dog’s side. The dog gradually showed signs of life and eventually was able to stand.