TRAVERSE CITY — A volunteer firefighter's dog died after it was kept in a vehicle while he responded to a rescue call, an incident that prompted an investigation by Kalkaska County authorities.
Kalkaska County Sheriff David Israel said a pit bull owned by Garfield Township firefighter Lee Jensen died midday Saturday after it was released from his vehicle at the township fire station. It was in the vehicle "for perhaps an hour" while Jensen responded to a motorcycle crash, Israel said, and died a short time after friends came and let it out.
Deputies investigated the incident, and their report will be forwarded to county Prosecutor Kirk Metzger. Israel doesn't believe there was any wrongdoing.
"Basically, this is just an unfortunate accident," Israel said. "There's no criminality connected to it."
Grand Traverse County prosecutors this month charged a Williamsburg man with a misdemeanor count of animal cruelty for leaving a dog in a vehicle at the parking lot at Home Depot in Traverse City. That animal survived.
Israel said deputies were told the animal was left in Jensen's vehicle with the windows open and water available. When Jensen was at the crash scene longer than anticipated, he contacted friends who came to release the dog. They also gave the animal additional water and were going to keep it in the fire station until the owner returned, Israel said.
Garfield Township Fire Chief David Jones attempted to resuscitate the dog, Israel said.
"There were reasons he passed away," Jones said of the animal. "He's an old (dog) and he couldn't handle it."
Midday temperatures topped 90 degrees in some areas of northern Michigan on Saturday, according to data from the National Weather Service. But weather stations around the Kalkaska showed lower temperatures in the late morning, ranging from the mid-70s to near 80 degrees.
Region
Dog dies after left in car
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Felon wants a firearm
