A Missouri man was charged with two counts of failure to provide an animal with adequate care after police say he left two Schnauzers in a hot car at the Colonial Williamsburg Regional Visitor Center.
David Joseph Kniess, 58, of Troy, Mo., was issued two summons June 15 after he allegedly left his two dogs in a hot vehicle at the visitor center in Williamsburg, located at 101 Visitor Center Drive, James City County Police spokesman Deputy Chief Steve Rubino said.
James City County animal control responded to the visitor center around 1:50 p.m. after Colonial Williamsburg security called them about two dogs in a hot car, Rubino said.
The vehicle’s windows were cracked several inches, Rubino said. The owner had also provided the dogs with a water bowl, which had been knocked over by the dogs, he added.
The two Schnauzers were panting heavily when animal control arrived. Rubino said officers estimated the dogs had been in the car about an hour.
Rubino said the inside of the vehicle was around 92 degrees Fahrenheit, while outside the car was about 80 degrees that day.
Animal control seized the dogs and brought them to the Heritage Humane Society in Williamsburg.
Kniess was issued two summons charging him with failure to provide adequate care when he picked up his dogs several hours later at the humane society.
Court records do not show a scheduled hearing date for Kniess.
