BEXAR COUNTY, Texas – A northeast Bexar County man is accused of leaving two dogs in a hot car for more than eight hours while he drank alcohol, then fell asleep.
Bexar County sheriff’s deputies arrested Joseph Paz, 34, Sunday night on two counts of animal cruelty.
A report says someone who lives with Paz returned to the home on Woodlake View and found the dogs inside a parked car.
It says both animals were dead after apparently spending more than eight hours in the vehicle. Records show the outdoor temperature was just under 100 degrees.
Deputies who questioned Paz said he told them he placed the dogs into the car around 3 p.m. with the intention of taking them on a walk.
Instead, he said he began drinking alcohol, fell asleep and forgot about the pets, the report says.
KSAT 12 News stopped by the home Tuesday, hoping to speak with Paz, who was released from jail on a personal recognizance bond.
However, two children outside the home said Paz wasn’t there.
According to the website Chewy.com, temperatures above 90 degrees are considered dangerous for dogs, while anything from 100 degrees and above is considered life-threatening.
To determine how hot it can get inside a vehicle on a day with temperatures in the 90s, KSAT 12 News placed a thermometer inside a car.
After one hour, the vehicle’s internal temperature had reached 112 degrees, conditions that can be deadly for pets and people.
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Source:
KSAT San Antonio
