2 charged with animal neglect, 2023 9 dogs died in Lake Station, Indiana due to heat, police say

LAKE STATION, Ind. (WLS) — Two people are on trial for an incident that led to the heat deaths of nine dogs.

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According to police, Michael McHenry, the owner of the dog transport company, and Jessee Urbaszewski, the driver of the truck, were charged with 18 counts of animal neglect.

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Nineteen German Shepherds were being transported to a training facility in a box truck in Lake Station, Indiana, last summer when they overheated.

The police had originally spoken of ten dead dogs. On Tuesday, the authorities then clarified that nine dogs had died.

At the time, police said Urbaszewski was on his way to a training facility in Michigan and was unaware that the air conditioning in the truck’s cargo area had broken down.

According to investigators, the driver was using a cooling device that is not intended as a replacement for air conditioning.

None of the police dogs were intended for the Indiana State Police.

Authorities said none of the defendants had a criminal record.

None of the defendants are in custody.

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Indiana State Police said their investigation revealed that a portable air conditioning unit in the truck – even if it had been working properly – would not have kept it cool enough for the dogs.

Two men are now facing charges of neglect.

PETA released the following statement:

“Nothing can undo the horrific suffering and painful deaths of these dogs, but PETA is grateful to the Indiana State Police and the Lake County District Attorney for considering the defendants’ blatant disregard and hasty recklessness and for advocating for some measure of justice on behalf of these dogs.”