Rochester, N.Y. – The Humane Society of Greater Rochester says a Rochester animal control officer is facing two counts of animal cruelty.
According to Rochester police, two animal control officers picked up two pugs last month and placed them in a truck with a broken air conditioning unit.
Police say the two pugs died from the stifling heat.
The Humane Society says a police investigation has led to the arrest of one of the animal control officers.
The pugs’ owner, Nancy Lee, who lives on the city’s east side, had called for some kind of consequence.
She says the two pugs, Lilly and Daisy, had escaped from her yard and had been healthy.
"I honestly thought that this would be lost, I don’t want to say I’m pleased, that’s not the right word, but I’m glad somebody is being held accountable for this tragedy and a lot of credit goes to the media for listening to my story and following up, same with the police department and the investigators and the Humane Society also," Lee said.
Rochester Animal Control is also being scrutinized for mistakenly euthanizing a family dog earlier this month.
13WHAM will update this story after speaking with Rochester police.
