Get a lawyer for animal abuse ticket?
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Anonymous
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My parents were on a road trip and stopped to grab food. They left their dog in the car. It was a shady spot, windows down, dog had food and water and it was 85 degrees. They checked on the dog. Anyways when they returned they had a ticket for abuse of animals. The ticket said they were gone an hour but that was untrue. It was 20 min and the cop kept them waiting another 40 to issue the ticket.
My parents are pretty worried. I googled and it says it's a second degree misdemeanor. My parents are caught up in the fact that they have to fly back to Ohio to appear before the judge. Should they get a lawyer? Are there any other effects of the misdemeanor on their records? |
Anonymous
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Windows down in the shade makes all the difference.
It'll be dismissed outright, or they'll be found not guilty. |
Anonymous
Op here. You mean with a lawyer or without one? Should they plead not guilty? They've never even had a speeding ticket. |
Anonymous
| They really should get a lawyer who is local to the courthouse. A misdemeanor conviction is still a conviction. It will be a blip on the criminal record. Honestly, A dog left in a car in 85 degree temps, even with the windows down, is too hot. When we travel with the dog, one of us keeps the dog on a leash outside the car while the other goes to get the food. Then we switch if the other wants to go in for restroom or supplies. |
Anonymous
| No sympathy. Use a drive through or one human goes in to pick up food while the other one stays in the car and then go to a rest area for a picnic. Get a lawyer, but they need to wise up. |
Anonymous
This is worse than a speeding ticket. It's a criminal charge. They should absolutely get a lawyer in Ohio who can work with the prosecutor. It's clear they have no clue what they are doing or what this means. They could be facing a significant fine and even a jail term (though unlikely). |
Anonymous
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So there were two adult humans and both had to go into the store and leave the dog by himself?
Why couldn't one go in and do the shop while the other sat in the car with the engine on (and air conditioner?) |
Anonymous
| Op here. They know they were in the wrong. They don't deny that. It was very cool in the shade so they didn't relize the temperature. |
Anonymous
| They absolutely need a lawyer in the state where the charge was made. This isn't traffic court. |
Anonymous
| Can someone tell me what the benefits of a lawyer are vs no lawyer? It seems to be a 1k ticket and I bet a lawyer would cost that too. If they get a lawyer will it still be a misdemeanor and a 1k ticket? |
Anonymous
| Did they sit in the car for an hour in 85 degree heat? I dont believe that a cop left the animal in the car for an extra 40 mins. What was the air temp inside the car? This was animal cruelty and i wish more people would mske better choices. Yes they should get a lawyer. |
Anonymous
The dog was in the car for 20 min. My parents came back and the cop was there with the dog in his SUV trunk in the caged part in the AC for another 40 min. The cop wrote an hour down but that's the combined time. Also it's fall and there was a good breeze through the open window. Truly they love their dog. |
Anonymous
A lawyer can negotiate for a lesser charge, and maybe probation before judgement which will keep their records clean. |
Anonymous
| Why would two elderly people even care about a clean record? I wouldn't get a lawyer |
Anonymous
| 85 degrees is hot, even in the shade. Hopefully your folks won't do this again. |