Mesa man arrested after pit bull dies from heat

ARIZONA -- A 40-year-old Mesa man was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of animal abuse after Maricopa County sheriff's deputies found a dead pit bull in his yard, according to a Sheriff's Office statement.

The deputies said Brian Womack left his 1-year-old pit bull, Bishop, chained up in his yard without adequate shelter or water while temperatures reached 110 degrees.

It wasn't clear how the Sheriff's Office learned about the alleged abuse.

After being questioned by deputies, Womack insisted that his neighbor poisoned Bishop, the statement said.

Deputies said they took the dog's body to a local veterinarian, who confirmed the dog had died of extreme heat exhaustion.

(The Republic - July 10, 2014)