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 car in Wolfville during a hot day last summer.

Jason Remai went on trial Wednesday in Kentville provincial court, accused of one count of failing to provide his dog with 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. He tried to save the dog by smashing the vehicle's window with a hammer.

Cummings testified that he and another person attempted to revive the dog after they managed to get it out of the sweltering car. Cummings told the court the 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 said Remai walked calmly past him to the dead dog.

Remai was attending a convention at Acadia University and Cummings testified he had seen the owner and the dog at lunchtime. The dog was discovered in the car sometime after 2:30 p.m. 

Meteorologist Bridget Thomas testified that July 21 was a sunny day in Wolfville with temperatures between 22 C and 23 C during the afternoon.