BRIDGEWATER — On Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at approximately 4:35 p.m., Officer Nicholas Mantalos and Detective Nicolas Chmielinski of the Bridgewater Police Department responded to 911 calls about two women screaming and crying outside a condo on Heather Lane.
According to a statement issued by Bridgewater’s Police Chief Christopher Delmonte, when the officers arrived on scene, they found two medium-sized dogs lying on the ground next to concrete steps near the home and determined they were both deceased.
The officers’ preliminary investigation indicated that a 32-year-old woman and a 59-year-old woman, both of Bridgewater, had left the dogs in the vehicle for over 90 minutes.
“The windows were not opened, and no air conditioning was turned on,” Chief Delmonte said. “The Bridgewater Fire Department determined the temperature inside the vehicle was at least 130 degrees. The investigation revealed that the dogs had also been living in unsanitary conditions inside the home.”
Bridgewater Animal Control took custody of the dogs and transported them to a veterinary medical center for a necropsy.
The two women—whose names have not been released—were issued summonses to appear in Brockton District Court on the following charges:
- Cruelty to Animals
- Confinement of an Animal in a Motor Vehicle Causing Exposure to Extreme Heat
“This is a heartbreaking and entirely preventable tragedy,” said Chief Delmonte. “No pet should ever be left in a vehicle on a warm day in direct sunlight, even for a few minutes. Temperatures inside a car can rise to deadly levels in a matter of minutes, even with the windows cracked. We urge everyone to think twice and take the necessary steps to protect their pets from extreme heat.”
