3 Dogs Locked in Hot Car Die at Ottumwa Dog Show; 1 Survives

The following news article is regarding Craig Eugene and his actions at the Southeastern Iowa Kennel Club dog show held in Ottumwa, Iowa on Saturday, July 8th. To read more visit the Des Moines Register, here. 

By Kelly McGowan

Three dogs died of heat exposure after they were locked in a vehicle Saturday outside of a dog show in Ottumwa, police said.

The Ottumwa Police Department responded to reports on Sunday that the incident had occurred Saturday in the 100 block of Church Street, according to a news release.

The American Kennel Club All Breeds Dog Show was held Saturday and Sunday at the Bridge View Center in Ottumwa, according to the venue’s calendar. It was hosted by the Southeastern Iowa Kennel Club.

Two dogs were reportedly found dead at the scene, and a third was taken to a local veterinary clinic, where it died. A fourth dog lived.

An investigation into the case is ongoing, and no charges had been filed as of Tuesday afternoon.

Ottumwa Police Chief Tom McAndrew said police were “behind the ball” on the investigation because the tip was called in a day after the incident. The dogs had been removed from the scene by Sunday.

“Anyone responsible” for the dogs is believed to have been from out of town and visiting for the show, McAndrew said.

He said the case was made more difficult because witnesses present for the show would have left town by the time the tip came in.

The situation should serve as a reminder to anyone in contact with a pet, McAndrew said.

“You can’t leave a dog in a car during these hot days,” he said. “Even on a moderately warm day, it’s too hot for a dog to be in a car.”

Saturday’s high temperature reached 89 degrees in Ottumwa, according to the National Weather Service.

Breeds and ages of the dogs were unavailable as of Tuesday afternoon.

Short URL: https://caninechronicle.com/?p=128865

Posted by chesliepickett on Jul 12 2017. Filed under Breaking News, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.