Kingston Police lay charges after puppy locked in trunk of vehicle

With the temperatures reaching approximately 23 C outside, officers were forced to break through a vehicle window to render aid to a puppy locked in the trunk, according to Kingston Police.

The incident occurred at approximately 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 11, 2022, when Kingston Police received a report of a dog locked in the trunk of a vehicle. The vehicle was parked outside of the Walmart location on Midland Avenue.

“Upon arrival, police could hear whimpering coming from inside the vehicle’s trunk,” Kingston Police said in a press release on Thursday, May 12, 2022, noting the evening’s temperature of over 20 C.

“Police made efforts to enter vehicle, however, were forced to break the front driver’s side window of the vehicle in order to access the trunk latch.”

With the trunk opened, police located a 10-week-old puppy inside the vehicle. The puppy was “weak, lethargic, and exhibiting signs of being in distress,” police said.

While police were still present, an individual who identified as being in care of the young dog returned to the vehicle.

“Police were informed that the individual was in the process of transporting the puppy to a new owner outside of Kingston,” police relayed. “The puppy was cared for and delivered to the new owner by police to receive further care.”

As a result, the 23-year-old individual was arrested at approximately 6:25 p.m., and charged with willfully causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

“Kingston Police wish to remind residents not to leave children or pets unattended in cars for any length of time.”