Police: Man Left Puppies Locked in Trunk

Updated: Monday, 12 Apr 2010, 6:31 PM MDT
Published : Monday, 12 Apr 2010, 3:56 PM MDT

PHOENIX - Phoenix Police have arrested a man after they say he left six puppies in the trunk of a car for over an hour without ventilation, food, or water -- and outside temperatures were in the 80s.

34-year-old Daniel Suarez Lujan is facing animal cruelty charges after police say he locked six puppies in a car while inside Desert Sky Mall on Sunday afternoon.

About 1 p.m., mall security was alerted to the car by passerbys who said they could hear an animal crying inside the trunk. A Phoenix Police officer who also worked security for the mall came to assist and heard yelping from the trunk.

The officer contacted the Humane Society and requested a lock-pick. At this point, Lujan walked out of the mall towards the car and deactivated the car alarm.

Police say Lujan opened the trunk to reveal six very small puppies in a metal cage. The puppies were not moving and were sprawled across the cage.

They were drenched in sweat, and there was no food or water in the cage. Lujan allegedly told the officer his cousin put them there.

Officers brought the puppies into the mall and gave them water. They had been inside the trunk for an hour. Outside temperatures were in the 80s.

AHS workers arrived at the mall to bring the puppies to their facility for treatment. They suffered heat stress and all are expected to survive.

Punishment: lock his ass in the trunk, one hour for each puppy.  Agreed?  I'd make such a good judge.