Joe Frazier and Ashlee Frazier face animal cruelty charges, one dog dies, another treated after left in hot car

FLORIDA -- Hillsborough County deputies say a husband and wife from Ohio left two dogs in a hot vehicle Friday morning, causing the animals to require medical attention. A bystander broke a window to help the dogs. One pup had to be put down due to the organ damage caused by heat.

Around 10:15 a.m. Friday Joe Frazier and Ashlee Frazier, both 19, drove a 2004 Mazda to the University Mall, 2241 E. Fowler Ave. They had a 5-year-old Staffordshire terrier, Beast, and a 10-month-old dachshund-maltese mix, named Scooby Doo.

Joe B. Frazier
DOB:03/21/1994
4116 Franklin Street
Grove City, Ohio

  

Ashlee M. Frazier
DOB:08/02/1996
4116 Franklin Street
Grove City, Ohio

 

The Fraziers left the dogs in the Mazda and went inside the mall, deputies said. They had the windows rolled up and did not leave the A/C on, deputies added. It was 91 degrees outside.

Two witnesses saw the dogs around 11:15 a.m. The animals were in “extreme distress,” deputies said.

One witness broke a window and took both dogs out. The vehicle was 130 degrees when investigators arrived – after the window had been broken, deputies said.

Deputies said Beast (the pit bull) was suffering from convulsions and couldn’t respond or walk. The dog’s rectal temperature was 110 degrees, while it should’ve been 101 degrees, deputies said. Scooby Doo was panting.

 

When the Fraziers returned to the vehicle at 11:35 a.m., deputies arrested them both. They are charged with felony animal cruelty. The dogs are being treated at Hillsborough County Pet Resources.

One of the dogs had to be put down due to the heat causing organ damage. The other dog is treated at the shelter.

(WFLA - Sept 4, 2015)