A Hillsborough County man is facing an aggravated animal cruelty charge after his dog, a Cane Corso, died from being left outside in triple-digit temperatures. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office responded to an apartment complex on Palm Crossing Drive after a citizen noticed the dog locked in a crate outside.

According to deputies, the dog had been left there for several hours without food or water in temperatures hovering near 100 degrees. When deputies arrived at the scene, they found the dog suffering from severe heat distress and extremely lethargic. The animal was immediately rushed to an emergency veterinary clinic for treatment but later died.

Investigation and Charges

During the investigation, the owner, 44-year-old Harvey Leroy Jones, told deputies he put the dog outside because it was causing “problems inside the home.” Jones was subsequently arrested and charged. The sheriff’s office used the incident to remind the community about the severe dangers of summer weather on domestic animals.

“This tragic case is a powerful reminder that extreme heat can kill pets in a matter of hours,” the agency said in an official statement. “Never leave animals outside without adequate shade, fresh water, and supervision during hot weather, as doing so can have fatal consequences.”

Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.