Dog Dies After Woman Locks It in Hot Car as Punishment
Not all dog parents are created equal. We’ve all seen and heard some of the most horrifying stories about animals being abused by their owners. It’s a negative cycle that finds its way into so many communities today. It isn’t enough for some folks to know that animal abuse can be a felony charge depending on the severity.
The Story
58-year old Mouheb Ashakih of Sandusky, Ohio was charged with felony cruelty to animals on Saturday, August 7, 2021. The charge came after the police responded to a call from one of Ahakih’s neighbor. Apparently, Ashakih put her pet dog, a pit bull, in her car all while the windows were kept up and the doors locked. The pit bull was left in the car for about 20 minutes before the Ashakih’s neighbor decided it was time to call 911. At the time, the temperature in the area was about 81 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s hot enough to be uncomfortable outdoors, let alone inside a closed vehicle with no available ventilation. The neighbor also noticed that the dog appeared to be in distress, almost wanting to be let out. There was enough concern there for the neighbor to approach and confront Ashakih about her dog. The neighbor asked Ashakih through her side window to let the pit bull out of the car, to which Ashakih only responded with disdain. She replied, “I don’t care. I want him to die.”
Chapo was Ashakih’s pit bull’s name. Chapo was put in the car supposedly as punishment. According to Ashakih, Chapo attacked one of her other dogs. Ashakih had four other dogs in addition to Chapo that were in the house at the time. Ashakih locked Chapo up in the backseat of her car to punish it for its actions. By the time the police got to the car, the pit bull already appeared lifeless. The police had assumed it was already deceased, and they confirmed that assumption upon opening the vehicle. Ashakih apparently screamed in distress upon seeing Chapo limp and lifeless and begged the police to break the windows of her car in order to get access to her pet. When the police finally got to Chapo, it was already too late. Chapo’s body felt abnormally hot to touch. Its paws were cut up and its body was full of scratches and wounds. It was quite apparent that the dog was fighting desperately for its life, even hurting itself in the process. The backseat of Ashakih was also a disturbing scene. Blood was all over the backseat of the car—a picture of Chapo had gone through during the last moments of its life. Although Chapo sustained injuries during that time, it was the heat that finally took his life.
Dogs and excessive heat
It’s common knowledge that animals should not be left in an enclosed space under heat. Much like humans, dogs experience the effects of heat in serious ways. Dogs can get heat stroke too. While dogs are equipped with ways they can bring their own body temperature down naturally, such as panting and drinking water, there are scenarios when it becomes impossible for dogs to cope in extreme heat. In an enclosed vehicle, temperatures can easily climb high inside even when the temperature outside is a lot milder. This can happen even when a little crack is left in the window to allow air to pass through. Pet parents can’t and shouldn’t ever forget that, unlike humans, dogs have their coat to worry about. Their coats protect them from the cold and helps them regulate their body temperature in warm weather. However, extreme temperatures don’t fit into that mold. Dogs are also incapable of sweating, which doesn’t help with keeping the body cooler. Dogs rely primarily on their respiratory system in order to keep themselves cool. The body temperature of dogs normally range from 100.5 to 102.5 degree Fahrenheit. Once that number goes up to 106 to 109 degrees, a dog will go into heatstroke or extreme hyperthermia. Its body tissues will sustain damages from the internal heat, and it could cause death in the long run or even immediately.
Animal cruelty laws
There are guidelines as to what constitutes an animal cruelty felony charge. According to the law, animal cruelty and abuse are illegal. There are many criminal acts that can be committed to animals, some of which include torture, physical beatings, injury, abandonment, reckless transportation, and many others. Different states define and interpret their own laws. State law normally will determine how serious a case of animal cruelty is, but the FBI does have a list of crimes against animals that will always be considered a felony. Ashakih was arrested that day, but she was taken to the Firelands Regional Medical Center instead of jail. The deceased dog’s owner began making disturbing and unusual statements to the police during her arrest that it warranted a visit to the hospital for a mental evaluation. Although Ashakih was medically cleared, she had to surrender the rest of her pets to the authorities. Ashakih was sent back home to allow the Erie County dog warden to take the rest of her dogs: one 2-year old and three 3-month old puppies. Ashakih went back to jail, where she was ordered held without bond. She is awaiting another mental health evaluation before her next court appearance. Unfortunately, this isn’t Ashakih’s first run-in with the law regarding animal abuse. She was cited back in the beginning of August for failing to confine two of her adult dogs then, one of which happened to be the now deceased Chapo. Chapo is remembered by Erie County’s dog warden to be a gentle and responsive dog. No animal deserve the kind of treatment and fate that Chapo received at the hand of its former owner. The rest of the dogs from that home are now safe waiting to find a new home.
