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September 1, 2010
Clinton Twp. man arrested in D.C. after dog's death
By Heidi Roman
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Photo provided by the Washington Humane Society |
Chihuahua left in plastic bin inside hot car
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A Clinton Township family’s vacation to the nation’s capital was put on hold Aug. 30 when the father, Kenneth Reiff, was arrested for animal cruelty.
Reiff was touring the Holocaust Museum in downtown Washington, D.C., with his daughter and had left his two dogs locked in a minivan for hours. An 8-year-old Chihuahua, Rosie, was inside of a plastic bin in the car. Authorities found them in the van parked in the 1300 block of Independence Avenue Southwest, according to the Washington Humane Society (WHS).
Rosie died from the heat inside the van. The other dog, a 15-year-old beagle mix named Pebbles, was taken to the hospital and treated for heat stress. Pebbles is expected to recover.
The Metropolitan Police arrested Reiff and charged him with two counts of animal cruelty. His daughter was taken into custody by Child Protective Services.
Scott Giacoppo, vice president of external affairs and chief programs officer for the WHS, said his department has seen a high number of dogs suffering from heat stress in vehicles this summer compared to past summers, especially dogs who are brought to the District by out-of-town tourists.
Pet owners need to be aware of how quickly the temperature in a car can rise on a warm day, he said.
“It has been a very hot summer and we have had too many dogs die because their owners are irresponsible,” Giacoppo said in a statement. “Pet owners need to know it is a crime to leave your dog inside a hot car.”
The WHS Humane Law Enforcement Department and the Metropolitan Police Department worked together on the case.
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