GENEVA —
An Ashtabula man who left his dog in a parked car faces a misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty, Western County Court records show.
Jeremy Welker, 25, parked his car in a yard on North Broadway last week, but left his dog inside because he didn’t have a leash, Geneva police reports show.
Three officers responded to the call and found the dog in a blue SUV, the windows partially open and the keys still in the ignition, Officer Eloy Salinas said.
“The dog barked at the officers for about two minutes when it gave up and rested her head on the door panel,” Salinas said.
Salinas said the dog seemed “exhausted.”
Unwilling to leave the dog in the car any longer, the officers removed the dog and took it to the Geneva Police Station. A tow truck was called to remove the SUV, Salinas said.
As the tow truck arrived, Welker walked up to the vehicle and told officers he left the vehicle in the lawn because he thought a friend lived at the residence.
Welker went to the Geneva Police Station to get his dog and pick up his citation for second-degree misdemeanor animal cruelty, police reports show.
The Ohio Revised Code shows the misdemeanor charge carries a maximum of 90 days in jail and a $750 fine.
Welker will be sentenced on Aug. 15 in Western County Court.
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