Lunenburg man found guilty in hot car dog death

A Lunenburg, N.S., man has been found guilty under the Animal Protection Act after his Portuguese water dog died when he left it inside his carin Wolfville during a hot day last summer.

Jason Remaiwent on trial Wednesday in Kentville provincial court, accused of one count of failing to provide his dogwith reasonable protection from injurious heat on July 21, 2013.

He will be sentenced June 25. The maximum sentence is six months in jail and a $10,000 fine.

Court heard testimony from a number of witnesses, including John Cummings. Hetried to save the dog by smashing the vehicle's window with a hammer.

Cummings testified thathe and another person attempted to revive the dog after theymanaged to get it out of the sweltering car.Cummings told the courtthe animal was very hot to the touch and its hair was damp. He said it was "like it had just come out of a sauna."

After the dog died, Cummings testified he saw Remai and told him "I think your dog is dead."He saidRemai walked calmly past him to the dead dog.

Remai was attending a convention at Acadia University and Cummings testified he had seen the owner andthe dog at lunchtime. The dog was discovered in the car sometime after2:30 p.m.

Meteorologist Bridget Thomas testifiedthatJuly 21 was a sunny day in Wolfville with temperatures between22 C and23 C during the afternoon.