Warrant Issued After Man In Jamaica Plain Dog Hot Car Death Fails To Appear In Court
BOSTON (CBS) -- The owner of a dog that died in a hot car earlier this month didn't show up for his arraignment in West Roxbury Municipal Court Tuesday, so a judge issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
Travis Gustafson, 31, faces felony animal cruelty charges after police say he left a male pit bull in his truck on Burroughs Street in Jamaica Plain on August 1, leading to the dog's death.
The dog was spotted in the truck around 3 p.m. by members of a landscaping crew.
The pit bull was rushed to nearby MSPCA-Angell Animal Hospital, where its heart stopped beating within a minute of arrival.
Vets there said he had suffered a heat stroke. They said his temperature was 109.7 degrees, as high as the thermometer would go--so it may have been even higher.
Boston Animal Care and Control Director Amanda Kennedy said the dog was probably in the car for at least two and a half hours.
According to the MSPCA, the inside of a car can heat up to 100 degrees in 10 minutes on an 80 degree day – even with the windows slightly open.
Last year, Gov. Charlie Baker signed a bill that protects pets left in hot cars–as well as those who break them out in order to rescue them.