Target: Maeghan Maloney, District Attorney, Kennebec and Somerset Counties, Maine
Goal: Pursue maximum penalties, a long animal-ownership ban, and full restitution after two dogs were reportedly left in a truck for hours, causing one death.
Witness accounts and police reports say two rottweilers were left inside a parked truck for about five hours during a daytime outing. One dog was reportedly found unresponsive on the passenger floorboard while the other was seen struggling to breathe. Charges now include aggravated cruelty to animals and cruelty to animals.
Heat builds fast inside enclosed vehicles. Even mild outdoor temperatures can drive interior heat to dangerous levels within minutes, leading to panic, organ failure, and death. Empty water and locked windows can turn a truck into a lethal trap. Each minute of exposure compounds suffering and risk, which is why such cases demand strong, public accountability.
Meaningful sentences deter copycats and protect animals statewide. Prosecutors should seek the highest lawful penalties, a lengthy prohibition on owning or supervising animals, mandatory counseling where appropriate, and unannounced compliance checks. Courts should order restitution that covers veterinary examinations, necropsy if performed, boarding, and agency response costs. This case calls for a clear signal that leaving animals in vehicles for extended periods will meet serious consequences.
PETITION LETTER:
District Attorney Maloney,
Reports indicate two dogs were left inside a truck for roughly five hours, with one later found deceased and the other in distress. A grand jury has returned charges of aggravated cruelty to animals and cruelty to animals. The facts described reflect extreme risk and profound suffering.
We respectfully urge your office to pursue every charge supported by the evidence and to seek maximum lawful penalties at disposition. Please request a long prohibition on owning or supervising animals, court-ordered counseling when indicated, and probation terms that include unannounced compliance checks.
We further ask that you seek full restitution for veterinary examinations, necropsy if applicable, boarding, and public-agency costs tied to the response. A firm, transparent outcome will deter future neglect and affirm that animals are not left to die in parked vehicles.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Dr. Manfred Herrmann Allgemeiner Deutscher Rottweiler-Klub (ADRK)
