Police make an arrest after finding dogs left in a hot trailer

July 20, 2019 1:02 pm

By News Staff

Email: news@abc6.com

Twitter: @ABC6

NORTH SMITHFIELD, R.I (WLNE) – A man was arrested on animal cruelty charges after leaving dogs in a hot U-Haul Friday afternoon.

According to the North Smithfield Police Department, the incident occurred at a Walmart at the Dowling Village Plaza at 1:54pm.

The driver of the vehicle was identified as Jeffrey Menard Levesque, who was exiting Walmart upon officers arrival.

According the police, Levesque claimed he had gone inside for a few minutes to use the restroom.

This conflicted with statements that witnesses provided on scene; indicating that the U-Haul had been parked there for over an hour.

Officers obtained the key to the U-Haul and immediately contacted North Smithfield Animal Control upon seeing the condition of the dogs inside.

The North Smithfield Animal Control officer said there were 5 dogs in cages, some covered in urine. One of the dogs was missing 2 front legs.

The officer also said that although the door was cracked open, the trailer reached temperatures of over 100 degrees.

The dogs were examined at North Smithfield Animal Hospital where they were given fluids.

A veterinarian at the hospital said one dog had suffered from minor dehydration.

North Smithfield Animal control is currently investigating the incident, but said all the dogs are in good health and resting comfortably.

Levesque was criminally charged with Mistreatment of Animals, Unnecessary Cruelty to Animals and Animal confinement in Motor Vehicle Prohibited.

In 2014 , Governor Lincoln Chafee signed a legislation which gives animal control officers, police officers and fire officials the authority to enter a motor vehicle by “any reasonable means necessary” to protect the health of an animal, after an attempt at locating the owner of the vehicle.