Virginia: 5-week-old puppy dies after Tyshawn General leaves 2 dogs in hot car, say police

VIRGINIA -- A Danville man is facing charges after police say he left dogs inside his hot SUV.

Police say they were called to Mall Drive around 4:00 p.m. Sunday in reference to a dog left in the unattended vehicle. Police say they found two dogs inside a white SUV both in physical distress.

The outside temperatures were around 89 degrees.

Police say the vehicle's owner, Tyshawn General, 32, of Danville was called to the scene where he admitted that the dogs were his. Police say he refused to cooperate with officers.

General was taken into custody and after getting the keys, officers were able to remove the dogs from the SUV and put them inside the air-conditioned police vehicle.

The dogs were taken to the Danville Area Humane Society where they were treated for life-threatening, heat-related symptoms. One of the dogs, a 5-week-old puppy, died.

Police say the puppy will be sent for a necropsy to determine a cause of death.

"When people are told that heat is life threatening to animals, please believe it," said Paulette Dean with Danville Area Humane Society. "If you are in a parking lot, and you see an animal in a car, call the authorities."

Police say someone did call them to report what they'd seen and that's when they arrested General for leaving the two puppies in a hot car.

"There's really no good reason why the dog should be going in the car while you're going to the store," said Jessica Hodges with Danville Animal Control. "Whether for a few minutes or an hour."

Hodges is the city's only animal control officer. She says calls about hot cars and pets are coming in more frequently. "During the summer... maybe one or two a day."

Hodges says people should treat their animals like family. "Basically we want people to treat their dogs as they treat their children," said Hodges. "Not to leave them in a car unattended."

Dean says an animal cruelty charge is a class one misdemeanor and General could face up to 12 months in jail and/or a fine up to $2,500.

Dean says they petitioned general district court for custody of the surviving puppy. "It's going to be OK... we're going to take good care of her."

She believes the custody hearing will be by the end of next week. If they receive custody, General will have 10 days to appeal.

He is charged with two counts of animal cruelty, one count of impeding police, one count of simple possession of marijuana.

Police say they are still investigating.

(WSET - Aug 29, 2016)