Two dogs die after being left in car on 95-degree day; owner charged with felony

On Friday, July 3, two dogs died after being left unattended in a car at The Boathouse Restaurant, 409 W. Jackson St., Cicero.

Perina James, 35, has since been arrested and charged with Cruelty to an Animal, a Level 6 Felony, and Cruelty to an Animal, a Class A Misdemeanor. (IC 35-46-3-7)

According to the probable cause affidavit, on July 3, Cicero Police responded to a call about two dogs being left in a hot vehicle. At 4:30 p.m., just before officers arrived on scene, the recorded temperature was 95 degrees with a heat index of 103 degrees.

According to the affidavit, “Perina stated they arrived [at] the Boathouse at approximately 2:30 p.m. and she left the vehicle running with the front windows lowered approximately one-third of the way before entering the restaurant. She stated both dogs were alive at that time.”

One of the dogs, a Rottweiler, was deceased when an officer arrived on scene. The other dog, a Goldendoodle, was taken by a Cicero police officer to VCA Veterinary Clinic in Fishers for emergency treatment. According to the affidavit, “Veterinary staff later advised that due to the animal’s condition and poor prognosis, humane euthanasia was authorized by Perina James via telephone.”

James told officers she was in The Boathouse for 30 to 45 minutes, after which she walked to Alexander’s Ice Cream, 369 W. Jackson St., for another five to 10 minutes.

The manager of The Boathouse told Cicero Police he had reviewed the surveillance footage and estimated James was in the restaurant for one hour and 45 minutes. That does not include the additional time spent at Alexander’s Ice Cream.

According to the affidavit, “Perina James stated that while [at] Alexander’s Ice Cream, she observed her windshield wipers activating. She walked back over to her vehicle and discovered the dogs in distress. She believed the dogs may have manipulated the vehicle’s climate controls, causing the air conditioning settings to change.”

Also according to the affidavit, “[James] later stated to veterinary staff over the phone that the dogs may have turned the vehicle off. This is inconsistent with the mechanical operation of the vehicle and observations on scene.”

This incident occurred only two days after Indiana’s new law providing extra protection for good Samaritans who see animals trapped in a vehicle took effect. Public Law 80, formerly House Bill 1165, both removes the civil liability for damage to a vehicle in cases like this and increases the penalties to the offender for cruelty to an animal.