Dog dies in hot car

SANDUSKY — A Sandusky man is facing a felony charge after a dog in his care died in a hot car on Sunday. Richard D. Goings, 50, 600 block W. Osborne St., is facing a single count of prohibitions concerning companion animals, a fifth-degree felony. This charge is more commonly known as cruelty to animals. Just before 7 a.m. on Sunday officers were called to a home in the 2100 block of Forest Drive for an animal complaint. Once on scene, officers spoke with Goings, who was standing beside an SUV crying, according to a Sandusky police report. A deceased gray and white pit bull was laying on the ground near the car. "It appeared the dog may have passed away due to heat exhaustion," the report states. Goings told the officer he went to the home to shower but left his car running and left a window open in case the engine died. When he exited the home, the car was no longer running and the window was rolled up, according to the report. Goings claimed he was inside the home for 30 minutes. Goings told officers that he believed the dog stepped on the window control, which rolled the window up. The report notes that the outside temperature was 86 degrees and that the temperature inside of the car may have reached 105 degrees. Though the dog did not have tags or a collar, the officer noted that it appeared to be well taken care of. It also appeared the dog spends "a lot of time in the vehicle and is believed to be living with Richard in the vehicle," the report states. Police took the dog's remains to the county dog warden's office. After speaking with prosecutors on Monday, the felony charge was approved and served to Goings, who was arrested and taken to Erie County Jail. "It was determined Richard knowingly left his dog in an environment (inside of his 2006 Dodge Durango) that was not sufficient enough to keep the dog cool during a heat wave that eventually caused the dog to become deceased," the report states. As of late Tuesday he is in jail under a $5,000 bond. His next court date is not listed.