An arrest warrant has been issued for a man who failed to appear in court Tuesday to be arraigned on charges of animal cruelty for allegedly leaving his dog unattended in a vehicle in Jamaica Plain on Aug. 1, leading to the dog's death.
Travis Gustafson, 31, did not appear for his arraignment at West Roxbury Municipal Court, according to Jake Wark, press secretary for the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office. Judge Paul McManus issued a warrant for his arrest.
Gustafson allegedly left his pit bull Max unattended in a Chevy pickup truck on Burroughs Street the afternoon of Aug. 1. City personnel accessed the truck shortly after 4 p.m. after an employee of a landscaping company noticed the dog in distress in the truck and called 911. Boston Police and Boston Fire personnel arrived on scene and entered the truck. Max was brought to the MSPCA-Angell Animal Medical Center but died a short time later.
Gustafson was notified that the dog had been taken from his vehicle, brought to the MSPCA and had not survived. The dog was reportedly left in the vehicle without any water, and Gustafson allegedly told investigators he had fed the dog ice cream earlier in the day, according to a police report.
If residents see an animal locked in a car and are not able to immediately locate the owner, they should call 911 or contact Boston Animal Care and Control.