Morgan Hill police have arrested a 36-year-old man on animal cruelty charges after they say he exercised them to the point of heat exhaustion.
One dog, a pit bull, died.
The other dog, a boxer, recovered after receiving an IV drip.
Sgt. Troy Hoefling said Antonio Palomarez was was booked Friday on an animal cruelty charge, and later released from jail after posting bail. His first court date was scheduled for Aug. 3.
Police spotted him about 4 p.m. that day near Calle Mazatan and Calle Cerro pushing a bicycle and dragging two dogs along as they lay on their sides. The dogs, officers noted, were panting profusely and seemed very lethargic.
Palomarez said he was exercising the dogs to "tire them out," police said. The pit bull was his, and the boxer is his neighbor's.
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Hoefling said police immediately loaded the dogs into a patrol vehicle and took them to the veterinarian. Doctors said the pit bull's internal temperature was 105.9 and the boxer's was 103.1. the pit bull was too far gone, Hoefling said, and was euthanized.
The boxer recovered and was released to his owner.
If anyone has information regarding this case is asked to call the Morgan Hill Police Department at 408-779-2101 or the anonymous tip line at 408-947-STOP (7867).
Contact Lisa Fernandez at lisa.fernandez@nbcuni.com or 408-432-4758. Follow her at Twitter.com/ljfernandez.
