Nassau Man Left His Dog To Die In 90-Degree Heat: DA

A man from Franklin Square was arrested on Thursday and charged with animal cruelty after the district attorney said he left his 10-year-old dog tied to a post in 90-degree heat, causing it to die of heat exposure.

Officials say that Levon Johnson, 66, was arraigned on Thursday and charged with overdriving, torturing and injuring animals, a Class A misdemeanor, as well as abandonment of animals, another misdemanor. He was released on his own recognizance and is due back in court on Oct. 11. He faces a maximum sentence of a year in jail if convicted.

"When you bring an animal home from a shelter, breeder or pet store, you are choosing to make that animal a part of your family," Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said in a press release. "Abandoning a pet is a heartbreaking crime, especially when the abandonment results in death."

According to Singas, on July 19 between noon and 12:20 p.m., Johnson drove to the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter, located in Wantagh, with a friend tied his 10-year-old Terrier/Chihuahua mix, named Mr. Tango, to an exterior parking lot fence with a short leash. Singas said Johnson did not notify shelter personnel that he left the dog outside.

The dog was left in full exposure to sunlight on a 90-degree day. The dog was already overheated when it was discovered by shelter volunteers between 12:45 and 1 p.m. A veterinary exam revealed that the dog had an internal temperature of 107-degrees. After initially improving under veterinary care, the dog died of cardiac arrest believed to be brought on by intense heat exposure.

It was later found that the dog had an implanted chip which allowed investigators to track down Johnson, who had owned Mr. Tango for more than 10 years, the DA said.

Johnson surrendered to district attorney investigators Thursday morning.

Photo: Nassau County District Attorney's Office