Woman whose dog died in hot car pleads not guilty to animal cruelty

MORGANTOWN — Denise Vanglider pleaded not guilty to animal cruelty and requested a court-appointed attorney at a Wednesday arraignment.
The 53-year-old entered her plea before Morgantown Municipal Judge Stephen Higgins.
If convicted, the Buckhannon woman could receive a fine of no less than $300 and not more than $500 and/or spend up to 30 days in jail, the judge said. He also informed her, if convicted she could lose the right to possess, own or live with an animal for five years.
If the court determines she qualifies for an appointed lawyer, the Monongalia County Circuit Court will appoint her one and a pre-trial hearing will be scheduled.
Vanglider is facing the charge after April, a 10-year-old Boston Terrier, died in a hot car in J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital’s parking lot June 8.
The Dominion Post previously reported hospital security discovered the dog inside a Chevrolet Cobalt about 1:45 p.m., but as it did not appear to be in distress security did not alert police, following the hospital’s policy at the time.
The dog was later discovered dead and Morgantown Police were called. MPD had been on scene about 45 minutes before Vanglider arrived at the vehicle and told the officer she had checked on the dog about 10 minutes earlier, a criminal complaint stated.
Ruby has since created a written policy and purchased leashes, water bottles and water bowls for all of its security vehicles. Previously, security followed a verbal protocol, which instructed them to alert police if the dog appeared to be in distress, Amy Johns, WVU Medicine spokesperson, previously said.
The new policy mandates security immediately alert police to animals found in vehicles — regardless of their apparent distress level.
Additionally, if the temperature outside is above 60 degrees, officers are instructed to attempt to free the animal from the vehicle — using an unlock kit kept in security vehicles if the animal does not appear distressed and breaking a window if the animal is distressed.
Friendly or docile animals are to be leashed and taken to a shaded area while aggressive dogs are left in the vehicle. In both cases, the dog is given water.
After city police arrive they will get the vehicle owner’s information which security will then check against the hospital’s patient list. If the vehicle owner is not a patient, security should contact management for authorization to page the owners, according to the policy. From there police handle the situation.
Scott Birerer, director of facilities, previously told The Dominion Post the policy was crafted with the intent to prevent another sad incident.
Follow The Dominion Post on Twitter @DominionPostWV. Email William Dean: wdean@dominionpost.com.