Two individuals from Indiana, Michael McHenry and Jessee Urbaszewski, have been accused of causing the deaths of nine dogs due to heat-related illnesses in 2023. They are facing 18 misdemeanor counts each for the neglect of vertebrate animals. Each count could result in a year in prison and a fine of up to $5,000, according to Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter.
McHenry, aged 55, and Urbaszewski, aged 44, turned themselves in at Lake County Jail and were subsequently released after posting cash bonds. McHenry posted $36,000, while Urbaszewski posted $18,000 in bail. Both men do not have listed attorneys in online court records, and as of Wednesday, no hearings had been scheduled for the case.
On July 27, 2023, 18 dogs were being transported in a box truck from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport to Berrien Center in Michigan. During a stop at a gas station in Lake Station, Indiana, Urbaszewski, the driver of the truck, found the dogs in distress due to the heat. Despite efforts by first responders and bystanders, three dogs died at the scene, and six were later euthanized because of their conditions.
Sergeant Glen Fifield of the Indiana State Police mentioned during a news conference that the truck’s cargo area was equipped with an inadequate cooling system for transporting the dogs. The dogs were en route to FM K9, a Michigan-based business in Berrien Center, for police dog training. Among the 18 dogs in the truck, there were 10 German Shepherds, six Belgian Malinois, and two Dutch Shepherds.
Jennifer Webber, the executive director of the Humane Society of Hobart, noted that the dogs exhibited signs of heatstroke when she arrived at the scene last July. She expressed satisfaction with the investigation that led to charges, stating, “Our professional opinion that night is vindicated. We saw that there was neglect.”