Villager placed on probation after leaving two dogs in hot car

A Villager has been placed on probation after leaving his two dogs in a hot car.

Charles Anthony Benz, 68, of the Village of Hacienda East, pleaded no contest this past month in Sumter County Court to two charges of animal cruelty. He has been placed on probation for one year.

Deputies were called to Benz’s home at about 3 p.m. Feb. 26 at 1316 Pamona Lane, where they found the two large poodles, named Cooper and Murphy, according to an arrest report from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. Cooper was sitting upright and panting heavily. Murphy, whose tongue was extended, was also panting heavily. Soon Murphy, who was extremely lethargic, could no longer stand. The dog appeared to go into a seizure and was unable to drink water. Cold water was poured on the dog in an attempt to revive the animal.

The dogs had apparently been left in a black 2016 Chevy SUV parked in direct sunlight with no shade in the driveway of the Benz home. All the SUV’s windows were rolled up. The outside temperature was 77 degrees.

Two sisters passing by spotted the dogs, who appeared to be in distress. The sisters were able to open the SUV’s doors and drag the dogs out of the vehicle. It was apparent that the dogs were overheated. One dog had blood coming out of its mouth. The sisters initially feared one of the dogs was dead.

Benz soon arrived home and told deputies he had just taken the dogs to the dog park. He stated he was in a rush because he had to take his wife to an eye appointment. When Benz initially returned home from the park, he spotted someone working in the yard. He said he needed to talk to that person and “totally spaced” about the dogs. He then went inside, got his wife, got into a second vehicle and drove to her eye appointment, leaving the dogs behind in the SUV in the driveway.