By MARK TODD - Staff Writer - mtodd@starbeacon.com
CONNEAUT — A Pittsburgh man accused of letting his dog die inside a hot truck in September can’t own a pet for five years, according to Conneaut Municipal Court records.
William Wivagg, 63, pleaded guilty to one count of cruelty to animals at a hearing Tuesday afternoon, a court spokeswoman said.
Judge Thomas Harris fined Wivagg $250 and costs and sentenced him to 90 days in jail. The jail time was suspended on the condition Wivagg perform 80 hours of community service in Pittsburgh by Jan. 17. Also, he is not permitted to own a pet for five years, according to records.
In return, a second cruelty charge was dropped, a court spokeswoman said. The second charge alleged Wivagg left the vehicle containing the dog parked in the sun.
On Sept. 9, police were called to Conneaut Creek, near Old Main Road, after a passer-by found the dog locked inside a cage inside the vehicle. No food or water was readily available, police said. Air temperature at the time was 80 degrees, and the interior of the vehicle was very hot, officers said in a report.
Wivagg, who had been fishing in the creek, told police he had left the dog only 45 minutes earlier, when it was given exercise and water, he said.
However, another man fishing nearby told officers he didn’t see anyone approach the vehicle for “several hours.
The dog was a 2 1/2 year-old springer spaniel, police said.
