Two dogs died after being left inside a locked pickup in the DeLand Walmart parking lot, and police arrested the man they say owned the vehicle. Witnesses told officers the owner had been drinking, and investigators say the animals later suffered heat stroke.
What police say happened
According to WESH, DeLand police responded to an animal complaint at the Walmart at 1699 N Woodland Blvd after shoppers reported two dogs locked in a white pickup. Officers arrived to find one dog panting and the other unresponsive. Both animals were rushed to the Animal Emergency Hospital, but the surviving dog died during transport. A veterinarian told investigators one dog's internal temperature was about 109°F, according to the WESH report.
Arrest details
FOX 35 Orlando reported the story yesterday, and said witnesses saw a man near the truck who appeared to be intoxicated before walking into nearby woods. Police later located and arrested the owner, identified in reports as David Micale (reported in some accounts as David Micale Jr.), and booked him into the Volusia County Branch Jail.
Charges and legal exposure
Reports say Micale faces two counts of felony cruelty to animals, a charge local prosecutors can bring when an owner’s failure to act results in an animal’s cruel death. The state's cruelty laws are codified in Florida Statutes, Chapter 828, as published by the Florida Senate, and a third‑degree felony is punished as provided in s. 775.082, a sentencing structure outlined by the Florida Senate that can include up to five years behind bars and fines.
Why hot cars are deadly for pets
Animal‑welfare and veterinary groups warn that parked vehicles can reach lethal temperatures in minutes and that dogs begin to suffer heatstroke well below the 109°F core temperature measured in this case. The ASPCA notes how quickly interiors can heat and lists signs of canine heatstroke, and veterinarians say core readings above about 107–109°F are often life‑threatening. Authorities and animal groups urge anyone who spots a distressed animal in a vehicle to call law enforcement or animal control immediately.
