PETA Commends Ruston Police for Investigating Negligent Death of Louisiana Tech Bulldog Mascot

Group Pushing for Charges After Tech XX Succumbs to Heatstroke While Left Outside in 102-Degree Weather

For Immediate Release:
August 14, 2012

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Ruston, LA -- PETA has sent a letter to Chief Steve Rogers of the Ruston Police Department thanking him for launching a criminal investigation into the death by heatstroke of Tech XX, the bulldog mascot of Louisiana Tech University. According to news reports, on July 29, Tech was left outside by an employee of the Sexton Animal Health Center in summer temperatures that exceeded 100 degrees. The employee—who tried to cover up the incident by claiming that Tech XX had escaped from the clinic and was missing—has been terminated. In its letter, PETA points out that the circumstances of Tech XX's death indicate a direct violation of Louisiana law.

"Death from heatstroke is agonizing, and Tech XX surely suffered before he died," says PETA Senior Vice President of Cruelty Investigations Daphna Nachminovitch. "We commend the Ruston police for giving this incident the serious attention that it deserves, and we hope charges are filed against the person who left Tech XX outside in the blistering heat and anyone else who might share responsibility for Tech's death."

For more information, please visit PETA.org. 

PETA's letter to Ruston Police Chief Steve Rogers follows.

August 14, 2012

Steve Rogers
Chief of Police
Ruston Police Department
401 N. Trenton
Ruston, LA 71270

Dear Chief Rogers:

We hope this letter finds you well. I am writing on behalf of PETA and our more than 3 million members and supporters globally, including our many members in Louisiana, to thank you for initiating a criminal investigation into the recent death of Tech XX, Louisiana Tech's 4-year old English bulldog mascot. Our office has been flooded with calls from people outraged by reports that Tech XX died from heatstroke on July 29 after a Sexton Animal Health Center employee left the dog outdoors in 100-degree temperatures.

Death by heatstroke is agonizing—animal victims are essentially cooked from the inside out. Heatstroke symptoms in dogs begin with heavy panting and difficulty breathing followed by vomiting. As the condition progresses, dogs become increasingly unsteady and pass bloody diarrhea. As shock sets in, the lips and mucous membranes turn gray and collapse. Seizures, coma, and death follow. While high temperatures can be deadly for any animal, bulldogs are especially susceptible because of their shortened air passages, which make it harder for them to breathe and cool themselves. (Dogs do not sweat—their only means of reducing body heat is through panting.) This is basic knowledge when it comes to bulldog care.

According to a published statement by the owner of Sexton Animal Health Center, veterinarian Patrick Sexton, Tech XX died from heatstroke when, "through the negligence of an employee, Tech XX was left outside too long." After learning that the employee had negligently caused the dog's death and had attempted to cover it up, Dr. Sexton terminated the person's employment. As you know, Louisiana's anti-cruelty statute, La. Rev. Stat. § 14:102.1, prohibits "mistreat[ing] any living animal by any act or omission whereby unnecessary or unjustifiable physical pain, suffering or death is caused to or permitted upon the animal." It is our hope that the person responsible for Tech XX's suffering and death will be charged accordingly.

Thank you for the difficult work that you do. May we hear from you soon?

Sincerely,

Gemma Vaughan, M.S.W.
Emergency Response Team
Cruelty Investigations Department