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RIO RANCHO — A Rio Rancho woman was summoned for leaving dogs in a hot car at Presbyterian Rust Medical Center July 27.
Angela Rodriguez, 46, was summoned for two counts of extreme animal cruelty after officers pulled two deceased dogs, a Yorkie and a Schnauzer, from her car at the hospital, according to a statement of probable cause. The temperature recorded by police that day was in the low 100s.
The statement reads that hospital staff called police to report the two animals were dead inside the car. Rodriguez allegedly left them in there while she checked into the hospital and had her mother check on them day-to-day, according to the document.
Officers report that surveillance footage showed the mother checked on them several times July 26 and again in the morning on July 27. The last time they were checked on was around 10:45 a.m., it states. Then at around 6 p.m., she returned and saw the dogs weren’t responsive, it adds.
It reports that the mother then called Rodriguez, “hysterical.” Rodriguez was escorted by a nurse to verify the dogs were dead.
All staff interviewed by police stated Rodriguez never mentioned she had dogs in the car and they were all unaware they were there.
Officers, when they found the car, saw that the windows were cracked and the dogs appeared to be “stiff.” They also note there was a small collapsible water bowl in the center.
The dogs were taken by animal control.
If convicted, Rodriguez could face a year and a half of jail time and pay fines up to $5,000. Court records show she has not yet entered a plea.
