Two dogs allegedly left in a small outdoor kennel during extreme heat in Paragould, Arkansas, are now in protective custody, and a 21-year-old woman faces two felony animal-cruelty charges.
Police say the dogs dug their way out of a roughly 4-by-4-foot backyard kennel on July 4. Officers responding to a report in the South Sixth Street area found the animals in a front yard, according to a reasonable-cause affidavit cited by local news outlets.
Animal Control documented a temperature of 96°F and a heat index of 105°F, police said. The dogs were described as malnourished, and officers said they found no food or water in the kennel.
What police say happened
Neighbors told officers that the residents had left town and that the dogs had been confined in the backyard enclosure. Police contacted Lanie Gleason, who was reportedly a couple of hours away and unable to return promptly.
Because of the reported condition of the animals and the extreme heat, Paragould Animal Control took both dogs into protective custody, authorities said.
During a Mirandized interview on July 7, Gleason allegedly acknowledged leaving the dogs outside in the kennel while a heat advisory was in effect. Police say she said the residents left on Friday and did not plan to return until later Saturday afternoon.
Charges and bond conditions
Greene County District Court Judge Curtis Hitt found probable cause for two counts of aggravated cruelty to a dog, cat or equine, which are Class D felonies in Arkansas. Gleason was released on a $10,000 cash/surety bond, according to KAIT, and was ordered not to possess animals while the case is pending.
A criminal charge is an allegation, not a conviction. Gleason is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Why heat can turn neglect into an emergency
Dogs can develop dangerous heat-related illness when they lack water, shade, ventilation and a way to escape high temperatures. The American Veterinary Medical Association advises that pets must have protection from extreme heat and easy access to cool, clean drinking water.
For the two dogs in this case, the immediate outcome is clear: they were removed from the reported conditions. The criminal case will determine whether the allegations meet the legal standard for aggravated cruelty.
Sources
- KAIT: Paragould woman charged after dogs found in extreme heat
- NEA Report: dogs taken into protective custody
- American Veterinary Medical Association: warm-weather pet safety
