Dog Left in a Hot Car Dies, Groton Man Throws Dog's Body in Dumpster, Police Say

By TIM JENSEN (Patch Staff)

A Groton man was arrested by Manchester police Friday on a warrant charging him with killing a dog in late July.

Jason Johnson, 30, is charged with cruelty to animals, interfering with police and tampering with evidence. He is being held on $10,000 bond.

On July 31, an anonymous caller reported a dog being locked in a car in the Shop Rite parking lot on Spencer Street. While officers were on scene trying to locate the dog, another caller reported that the suspect had thrown the dog into a dumpster on the property. When officers searched the area, they were able to locate the body of a deceased Yorkshire Terrier wrapped in a blanket in a dumpster.

Following an investigation, it was determined that the dog had died from acute cardiovascular shock and collapse with possible environmental reasons such as heat shock.

Johnson was identified as the owner of the dog, and investigation led to the issuance of an arrest warrant.

Photo courtesy of Manchester Police Department