Comfort Dog’s โDeath Leads to Animal Cruelty Charge
BANGOR,Maine – โข The man responsible for the Maine comfort dog โฃwho died โin a hot car earlier this year has been charged with animal cruelty. Brodie Hinckley,โ formerly the Emergencyโ Communications Director, received โขa summons for a civilโ violation related โคto the death โof Baxter,โ a 3-year-old chocolate Labrador.
The Penobscot countyโค District Attorney’s Office announced theโค charge Friday, overโ three โmonths after Baxter was discovered deceased inside a state vehicle at โขthe โขBangor Regional Communications Center in lateโ May. An investigation conducted by theโข state’s Animal Welfare Programme focused on the circumstances surrounding Baxter being โขleft unattended in Hinckley’s car.
District Attorney Christopher almy explained that the investigation revealed โBaxter was โleft โin the โvehicle for over four hours.โข While โฃHinckleyโ initially stated the air conditioning was running, the car’s battery failed, causing the system to shut down. The temperature inโ Bangor that day reached 83 degrees, capable of raising a car’sโฃ interior temperature to โapproximately 125 degrees within an hour, according to the National Weather Service.
Almy acknowledged the arduous decision-making process, balancing theโ tragic nature โขof the โคincidentโ with the duty of pet ownership. โฃ”It’s crucial that dogs left in cars โbe attended to,” he stated, adding that the office considered Hinckley’sโฃ remorse. Ultimately, they steadfast a civil violationโข of animal cruelty was the appropriate courseโข of action.
Following Baxter’s death, Hinckleyโ was โขplaced on paid administrative leave by the Department of Public Safety.
The Departmentโ issued a statement acknowledging โthe widespread impactโฃ of โฃthe tragedy, particularlyโฃ on staff who workedโ with Baxter. Theyโฃ also requested the โฃpublic refrain from contacting โฃdispatch โcenters regarding the incident, emphasizing theโ need โฃto keep lines openโ for emergency calls adn maintain the focus of telecommunicatorsโ on community safety.
hinckley is scheduledโ to appear in court in November.