Overheated Bulldog Rescued From Car In Southington, Man Charged

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A 74-year-old Southington man has been charged with cruelty to animals in a case of an overheated bulldog being rescued from a locked, hot car last month, police said.

Police released the details of the May 20 incident on Tuesday. Richard Tully was charged that day, police said.

On May 20, Southington Police received a report that a bulldog was left in a vehicle in a residential
driveway on Bristol Street, according to a report. Police found the dog with its head hanging out the window and panting heavily, according to a report.

The dog was "drooling heavily" and saliva was found not only running down the window, but dried on the window, a report indicates. The temperature at the time was 83 degrees and a witness told police the dog had been in the car for at least an hour, according to a report.

The dog was removed from the vehicle through "an unlocked door" and was found
to be in need of medical attention, according to a report. An animal control officer transported the dog to an area veterinarian and it was diagnosed with heat stroke.

The dog was treated and released from the vet to Southington Animal Control, where it is "doing well."