Alexis Cain, 24, pleads guilty to having left her puppy cook to death in her car

TENNESSEE -- The woman who left her dog in a hot car at Wolfchase Galleria this past summer has been sentenced to two years in jail, although she will ask for that sentence to be suspended.

Alexis Cain, 24, pleaded guilty earlier this month.

On July 29, several bystanders saw the 3-month-old Shorkie (Shih Tzu / Yorkshire Terrier mix) stuck inside a Ford Fusion outside the mall.  The window was cracked and a cup of water had been left for the puppy, but the little dog was clearly in distress inside the hot vehicle.

The outside temperature that day hit 99 degrees, which meant the temperature inside the car could have reached 140 degrees.

 

Those bystanders got the dog out of the car, but it was too late. The terrier died with a body temperature of 110 degrees - likely higher, but that's the highest number the thermometer could record.

It is unknown how long the little dog had been inside the car before being removed. However, at least two hours went by after the puppy was removed from the car before Parker and Cain finally finished their shopping and returned to their car.

Cain was charged with aggravated animal cruelty, a Class E felony. She pleaded guilty on Nov. 18. Cain will be back in court Dec. 8 to ask that the sentence be suspended.

Charlie Parker was also arrested with Cain in the incident, but charges were dropped against him when Cain took responsibility for the incident.

(Commercial Appeal - Dec 1, 2015)

Earlier:

• Couple faces animal cruelty charges for leaving dog in hot car