Augusta, Maine Man Indicted After Dog Dies in Hot Truck

An Augusta man has been indicted on animal cruelty charges after police say he allegedly left two dogs inside his truck for hours, leading to one of them dying from the heat.

According to the Kennebec Journal, the incident happened on August 8 outside the Whiskey Kitchen in Augusta. Investigators say 34-year-old Abinadi Nephi White parked his truck with two rottweilers inside and allegedly left them there for about five hours.

At some point during the evening, a passerby noticed the animals in distress. The witness told police she looked through the vehicle’s windows and saw one of the dogs lying unresponsive on the passenger-side floorboard. The second dog, she said, was still alive but appeared to be struggling to breathe, the KJ reported.

By the time police arrived, one of the rottweilers had died. Authorities say the prolonged confinement inside the vehicle played a direct role in the dog’s death.

A Kennebec County grand jury indicted White last week on two charges: aggravated cruelty to animals and cruelty to animals. If convicted, he could face fines, jail time, or both.

Animal welfare advocates in Maine have long urged pet owners to never leave animals inside vehicles, even for short periods, as interior temperatures can climb dangerously high in a matter of minutes.