Ashley Tillman, 43, was charged with aggravated animal cruelty Sunday, September 20, after her dog was found dead in a car at a manufacturing plant in Old Hickory, WSMV reported, citing an arrest affidavit.
Tillman told police she had left the dog in the vehicle while she went to work, according to the affidavit described by the station. Police and a Metro Nashville animal control officer found the animal inside.
Two readings describe different things
The reported 113°F reading was the temperature inside the vehicle. The dog’s body temperature was recorded at 109.2°F. Metro Nashville Animal Control collected the remains for further testing; the reviewed report does not provide the results.
Tillman faces a charge, not a conviction. The available report does not establish how long the dog had been in the car.
Metro Animal Care and Control’s published heat safety guidance tells owners never to leave animals alone in parked vehicles because temperatures can rise rapidly. The agency also advises keeping pets indoors during extreme heat and providing fresh water and shade.
Sources
How we reported this: The case details are attributed to WSMV’s account of the arrest affidavit. Metro’s guidance supplies general local safety information and does not corroborate the allegations against Tillman.
