The owner of a pet daycare facility in Denver has been cited for animal cruelty after a dog died while left in his vehicle on a hot August day, city officials said Tuesday.
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Investigators believe the dog died of heat exposure in a vehicle outside Happy Tail Happy Dog on Aug. 26, although the incident wasn’t reported to the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment until Sept. 11, department spokesperson Ryann Money said in an email to The Denver Post. The department oversees Denver Animal Protection.
Happy Tail Happy Dog, 4352 Cherokee St., offers daycare, boarding and grooming for dogs in Denver, according to the company’s website. The website names both Ted Gualtier and Julian Hogan as owners, but city officials did not specify which man was cited in the dog’s death.
The criminal case is expected to be filed in Denver District Court later this week, Money said.
“This is a sad reminder that animals should never be left alone in the car for any period of time,” Money said. “Temperatures inside the car can quickly rise almost 20 degrees within the first ten minutes. High temperatures can lead to heat exhaustion and heat stroke.”
Money was unable to release additional details about the incident, including how long the dog was left in the car.
Anyone concerned about a pet locked in a hot car can call Denver Animal Protection at 720-913-2080.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
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