Man Arrested After Dogs Die in Car at Balloon Festival

City of Poughkeepsie police said a 41-year-old New York City man faces a misdemeanor charge after the two dogs he left in his SUV were found dead.

Yu Inamoto was in the Hudson Valley on Saturday to attend the Hot-Air Balloon Festival, according to The Daily Freeman. Police say the dogs were left in the cargo area of the man's SUV for an hour as temperatures outside climbed to 84 F degrees.

The incident was reported Saturday evening by a woman who said she saw two people open the trunk of their car and discover that their dogs were dead. The Poughkeepsie Journal says the witness told police that the two then got into their car and drove off. The woman was able to take a photograph of the vehicle’s license plate however using her cell phone. The dogs were taken to a nearby emergency animal hospital, but did not survive.

Police say that Inamoto was cooperative after being contacted. Policesay he was charged with violating Section 353 of the New York State Agricultural and Markets Law, a misdemeanor in which a person unjustifiably injures or kills any animal.