A dog died in Manchester Township, New Jersey, after investigators say it was left alone in a vehicle for a long stretch of time on a warm day. Police were called to a driveway on Norwalk Avenue on the night of September 3, where the dog was found dead.

After weeks of work, including interviews and a necropsy, Manchester Township police consulted with the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and filed a third-degree animal cruelty charge against a 67-year-old Whiting man on October 1. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty, and his case is headed to court.

This case deserves to be seen all the way through. The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office should give it the full attention it needs, so the outcome is decided on the evidence and not quietly reduced or dropped. A dog depended on a person to keep it safe, and animal cruelty laws exist to protect animals that cannot protect themselves.

Deaths like this one can also be prevented. A parked car can heat up quickly on a warm day, even with the windows cracked, and a dog trapped inside has no way out.

The Ocean County Board of Commissioners and Manchester Township leaders can act now. They can run public warnings every warm season about the danger of leaving pets in cars. They can also fund more trained Humane Law Enforcement Officers, like the detective who led this investigation. These officers know how to look into cruelty and neglect, and more of them means more animals protected across the county.

One dog has already died. Sign the petition to call for a full pursuit of this case and real steps to keep the next dog from dying in a hot car.