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Benitez guilty of animal cruelty
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A pet owner who left his dog trapped in his car on a 93-degree day has been found guilty of cruelty to animals and will have to forfeit his animal.The dog owner, Robert Benitez, 68, was found guilty on the charge following a hearing before General Sessions Judge Bill Locke. He was ordered to surrender the dog and will be liable to pay its lodging bills. He was also placed on probation for one year but was granted a judicial diversion, meaning he can have his record erased if he does not get into any trouble in the next year.The incident that landed Benitez in trouble happened Aug. 4 when someone reported seeing an unattended dog in a car outside Walmart.Police Sgt. Lisa Norris said she found the dog inside Benitez’s Ford Excursion.