Prince, a 4-year-old French bulldog, is dead after his family said a pet sitter left him crated outdoors for hours in Hollywood, prompting a police investigation. The case is now focused on what happened during the dog’s final hours and whether anyone responsible for his care failed to protect him.
According to Local 10, a report was made Tuesday after Prince was found dead at a Hollywood home. His owners said he had been in good health before the stay and was being watched by a sitter they found through Rover.com.
Hollywood police said officers were investigating alongside city Animal Control, while Rover said its 24/7 Trust & Safety team opened an investigation into the incident. The company said the sitter’s account was deactivated without an appeal option, the stay was refunded and eligible veterinary and aftercare costs could be reimbursed through the Rover Guarantee, Local 10 reported.
Police Investigation Could Turn On Care And Cause
Police have not publicly determined what caused Prince’s death or announced any charge in connection with it. The facts investigators will need to establish include how long the dog was outside, the conditions he faced, what instructions the sitter received and whether a veterinary examination confirms heat exposure or another cause.
Florida Animal Cruelty Law May Become Relevant
Florida’s animal-cruelty statute makes it a first-degree misdemeanor to unnecessarily deprive an animal of necessary sustenance or shelter or otherwise treat it in a cruel or inhumane manner. The law also makes aggravated animal cruelty a third-degree felony when someone with custody or control of an animal fails to act and that omission results in a cruel death or excessive or repeated unnecessary suffering, according to the Florida Senate.
That does not mean the sitter will face criminal charges; prosecutors would need evidence establishing the relevant conduct and legal elements. For now, Hollywood police say they are gathering information to determine exactly what occurred and plan to provide updates as the investigation develops.
