TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — A 19-year-old is facing a misdemeanor animal cruelty charge after he left his dog inside a hot car, leading to the dog's death.
Angelo Klironomos, 19, was arrested for animal cruelty (1st degree misdemeanor) on Wednesday.
According to a probable cause document, the FSU Police Department was dispatched to the 1900 block of Heritage Grove Circle on June 26 after a dog was found unresponsive inside a car. When officers arrived, they spoke with a man who said the dog's owner, Klironomos, had left with the dog before officers arrived. The man said he believed Klironomos was taking the dog to a local veterinary hospital.
Documents say officers spoke to two other witnesses who said that the dog, a pitbull named Stella, was left in the car for at least 20 minutes. Investigators say it was between 93 and 95 degrees outside when the dog was allegedly left inside the car.
Officers then contacted the veterinary hospital the dog was taken to, according to court documents.
The doctor who handled the incident told them that the dog's internal temperature was over 110 degrees Fahrenheit, which he said "was indicative of a living thing being left inside a closed object with no airflow in the sun for an extended amount of time."
The doctor stated that the normal temperature for a dog is between 99 degrees and 102.5 degrees. According to court documents, the dog died.
Based on the evidence collected, probable cause was developed to issue a warrant for Klironomos' arrest. He was taken into custody on Wednesday.
Documents say a sergeant with Animal Control requested that Klironomos be barred from possessing any animals because he adopted another dog the following day and lied to animal shelter staff about how Stella died.
