Friday, July 29, 2016

Massachusetts: Jonathan Gormley, 28, charged with animal cruelty for leaving dog in vehicle

MASSACHUSETTS -- A Dorchester man has been charged with animal cruelty for leaving a dog in a hot car in Quincy, authorities say.

A maintenance worker called Quincy police Thursday morning at about 8:15 a.m. to report a dog left in a car. The worker reportedly told police he heard the dog barking at about 6 a.m. and saw that the car’s window was “slightly opened.” The worker told police he used a thermometer to check the inside temperature of the car and, at 6 a.m., it read 84 degrees. The worker told police he tried to notify the owner of the car, who was visiting a resident on the street, but was unable to reach him.

At about 8:10 a.m., the worker checked the car again to see if the dog was still there, according to police. He reportedly checked the temperature of the car again and the thermometer read 100 degrees.

“He stated the dog appeared to be visibly distressed, was panting heavily, and was shaking,” according to police.

The worker told police he sprayed the dog with a water bottle and, at that point, called police.

When officers arrived, they spoke with the dog’s owner, 28-year-old Jonathan Gormley. Gormley told officers the dog was in the car since midnight and that he "had checked on the dog every two hours", police said.

When Gormley took the dog out of the car and placed him on a leash, the dog bit the maintenance worker’s hand, causing a minor injury, according to police. Quincy Animal Control was called and took custody of the dog, since Gormley had no proof that the dog was properly vaccinated.

Quincy police reminded the public to never leave a dog in a car on a warm day and that a cracked window will not prevent death or heatstroke.

If you come upon a dog in a hot car, Quincy police recommend writing down the make, model, color, and license plate number of the car, alerting the management of the business where the car is parked, calling the police or animal control, and staying with the dog until help arrives.

(Boston.com - July 29, 2016)

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