Marion County, Oregon – Police in Marion County have arrested a man who left his dog in a hot, parked truck for over two hours while he and a woman were at the Monitor Inn “drinking and gambling.” According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the man dumped the dead dog’s body and left on June 14.
In a release, the agency said:
On June 14, 2026, between 11:20 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., when outside temperatures ranged from 88 to 93 degrees, deputies responded to the Monitor Inn after receiving information that a dog had been left inside a truck for approximately 2.5 hours. During the investigation, surveillance footage captured a male subject disposing of the deceased dog behind the business.
The authorities were looking for public assistance to identify the couple but later updated their social media profile stating that the individuals had been identified. According to KPTV News, police arrested 32-year-old Daniel West on a count of first-degree animal neglect. He was booked into the Marion County Jail.
On the day the dog died, it was over 80 degrees outside. Staff at the bar are heartbroken about the dog’s suffering and death and say they would have tried to help had they known he was in the truck.
Charges are being reviewed for the woman.
It has not been confirmed, but the deceased dog is believed to be a chocolate Labrador retriever named Taco. Rest in peace sweet boy.
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