Dog left in car in 7-degree temperature
Cape Neddick, ME (US)

Incident Date: Friday, Jan 29, 2010
County: York

Charges: Summary
Disposition: Civil penalty imposed

Alleged: Jennifer A. Molin

A York woman was charged with animal cruelty when her 1-year-old dog was found curled up and shivering, after being left in her car for more than two hours on a night when the temperature hovered below 10 degrees, police said.

Jennifer A. Molin, 40, 3 Pinefield Road, York, was charged with a civil violation of cruelty to animals for allegedly leaving her dog, Cullen, in her locked car at the Anchorage Inn on Long Beach Avenue on Jan. 29, 2010.

According to the police report, an Anchorage Inn employee phoned police just after 8:30 p.m., concerned for the dog in the parked vehicle in front of rooms 109 and 110. Officer Scott Slawson stated in his report that the temperature at the time was 7 degrees with a wind chill of -20 degrees Fahrenheit.

The registration of the vehicle was allegedly found in Molin's name. Molin was not, however, registered at the hotel and, according to the police report, police had a difficult time locating her.

Slawson said the front desk employee noted that a large group of people were staying in room 100, but when the employee phoned the room, she was unable to speak to anyone.

According to the police report, it was not until the group returned to the room just before 10 p.m. that police were able to track down Molin. Officer Daniel Gallant told Molin to start her vehicle so she could warm Cullen, who reportedly bounced back.

In the report, Slawson alleged Molin had an odor of alcohol on her breath but did not appear to be intoxicated, and said the dog seemed to be well kept but was thin. According to Gallant, Molin stated she did not believe that leaving Cullen in her vehicle in the frigid weather was inappropriate.

According to police, hotel employee Emily Loiselle noted in writing that she recognized Molin from earlier in the day "when it was still light out" because she asked about a friend staying in room 100.

Police said Loiselle also stated that Cullen was seen in the car at the hotel at approximately 7 p.m. that night.

Molin has a date to appear in York District Court on April 8, 2010.

References

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