A dog in Northern Cambria, Pennsylvania, was allegedly left tied up in a backyard for about 16 hours on June 30, while temperatures climbed past 90 degrees. According to police, the dog had no food, no water, no shade and nowhere to escape the sun. Two witnesses told investigators the dog was tethered outside from around 8 a.m. until close to midnight.

A 69-year-old man has now been charged with neglect, animal cruelty and abandonment, WJAC reports. Police say the dog suffered as a result and faced a risk of “serious injury,” according to the criminal affidavit cited by WJAC. He has been released without bail.

Pennsylvania already has rules meant to stop exactly this. Libre’s Law, passed in 2017, limits how long a dog can be tethered outdoors and makes it a violation to leave a dog tied out for more than 30 minutes when it is hotter than 90 degrees. The law also requires access to water and shade. These protections only matter when they are enforced.

The Cambria County District Attorney’s Office has the power to pursue this case to the fullest extent of the law. That should include asking the court, if there is a conviction, to order the dog permanently surrendered to a licensed shelter or rescue and to bar the accused from owning animals in the future.

Neighbors noticed and spoke up. Now the justice system needs to follow through, so this dog can finally be safe and every dog owner in Cambria County knows these laws carry real weight.

Sign the petition to call on the Cambria County District Attorney to prosecute this case fully and make sure this dog never goes back to that backyard.