An Ohio couple is facing charges after deputies said they left their dogs in a hot car outside University Mall in Tampa, causing one of them to die from heat stroke.
Ashlee M. Frazier, 19, and Joe B. Frazier, 21, are each facing two counts of felony animal cruelty.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Fraziers went into the mall Friday at 10:15 a.m., leaving their 5-year-old Staffordshire terrier, Beast, and their 10-month-old Dachshund and Maltese mix named Scooby Doo inside their 2004 Mazda.
Deputies said the couple left the windows rolled up and no running air conditioning inside the car. The temperature at the time was 91 degrees, deputies said.
At 11:15 a.m., witnesses spotted the dogs in distress, and one of the witnesses broke the window and removed both dogs, deputies said.
Deputies said witnesses spotted the dogs inside the car, and one of the witnesses broke a window and rescued both dogs. (PHOTO/Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office)
Beast was already suffering from convulsions and was unable to walk or respond, deputies said, while Scooby Doo was panting and extremely overheated. Beast later died.
Both dogs were taken to Hillsborough County Pet Resources for medical treatment. Beast later died.
"Unfortunately our fury friends wear fur coats," said Dr. Katherine Brammer, a Blue Pearl veterinarian. "They can only decrease their heat by panting and there's absolutely no way on a hot day that they can pant a sufficient amount to cool themselves sufficiently to avoid heat stroke."
The Fraziers returned to their vehicle at 11:35 a.m., which is when they were arrested and taken to the Hillsborough County Jail.
Investigators said Beast’s rectal temperature measured at 110 degrees, when it should have been 101 degrees. The investigator also said the interior temperature of the Fraziers’ car was 130 degrees, even with one broken window.
Graphic courtesy of the APSCA