Dog dies of heat stroke after 8 hours in car San Bruno, CA (US) Incident Date: Wednesday, May 24, 2006 County: San Mateo Local Map: available Disposition: Convicted Abuser/Suspect: Trent Payne Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

Case ID: 8732 Classification: Neglect / Abandonment Animal: dog (non pit-bull) View more cases in CA (US) Login to Watch this Case

A San Bruno man could face up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $20,000 for animal cruelty after he left a dog to die in his closed car for eight hours while he gambled at a casino, according to the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA.

At 4 a.m. Wednesday, Trent Payne left "Chase," his brother's black lab mix, unattended in his car while he went into Artichoke Joe's Casino in San Bruno. Eight hours later, when he checked on the dog for the first time, he found the dog dead, according to the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA. After informing the dog's owner of the death, Payne drove to the San Bruno Police Department and turned himself in.

The Peninsula Humane Society and SPCA's humane investigations department examined the dog and determined that he had died of heat stroke. The dog also had self-inflicted injuries to his tongue, which, according to the humane society, suggests that the dog suffered seizures, a common occurrence in cases of death by overheating. The dog's body temperature was 107.1 degrees when investigators examined it.

According to the humane society, Payne admitted leaving the dog in the car without food, water or ventilation. The police held him on an unrelated traffic warrant. Humane Investigator Debi DeNardi said that Payne appeared to be feeling guilt and remorse, but that his actions had led to the dog suffering and dying in an "absolutely horrible way."

San Bruno police will be forwarding their report to the San Mateo County district attorney's office, according to the humane society. Payne will most likely be charged with an animal cruelty misdemeanor rather than a felony charge because he apparently did not harm the dog intentionally.

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CBS5 - May 28, 2006

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