Hillsborough County man arrested, accused of leaving dog to die in extreme heat: HCSO
Courtesy: Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
UNIVERSITY, Fla. - A Hillsborough County man was arrested after deputies say his dog died from heat exhaustion after being left outside in a crate without food or water.
Hillsborough animal cruelty
What we know:
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded on Tuesday to an apartment complex on Palm Crossing Drive after a concerned person reported a Cane Corso had been left in a crate outside for several hours.
Investigators said temperatures were near 100 degrees when the dog was discovered.
When deputies arrived, they found the animal extremely lethargic and suffering from severe heat-related distress. The dog was rushed for emergency veterinary treatment but later died, HCSO said.
Dog owner arrested
Dig deeper:
During the investigation, deputies interviewed the dog's owner, Harvey Jones, 44.
According to HCSO, Jones admitted he left the dog outside because it was causing problems inside the apartment.
Deputies arrested Jones on a charge of aggravated cruelty to animals.
Florida summer heat danger
Why you should care:
HCSO warns that pets can quickly suffer heat exhaustion, heat stroke and death when exposed to high temperatures without adequate shelter and water.
The sheriff's office says animals should never be left outside for extended periods during extreme heat, especially in enclosed spaces such as crates.
What we don't know:
The sheriff's office did not say exactly how many hours the dog had been left outside in the crate before help arrived.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.