Man Charged After Pug Dies in Hot Car at DeSoto Square Mall

A Bradenton man is accused of leaving a dog inside a hot car to die.

Dewayne Sunny Robinson, 19, 2800 block of 50th Ave. E., Bradenton, was charged with torturing an animal with intent to kill after his pug died inside his Ford Mustang convertible, which was parked in the DeSoto Square mall parking lot with only the quarter back windows down, according to a report.

MCSO received a report around 3:30 p.m. When deputies arrived, the little dog was already dead, the report said. An animal services officer took the temperature inside the car and it was reportedly 118 degrees. The dog’s temperature was over 110 degrees, a report stated.

Robinson told deputies that he takes his dog everywhere and had just come back from a dog park in Sarasota. He said he and his mother were only inside the mall for 20 to 30 minutes to get something to eat. He said the dog had water when they left. Robinson’s mother said they were coming out to give the dog more water.

Robinson was taken to the Manatee County Jail and released the next day on a $1,500 bond.