Animal cruelty case draws countywide attention

A disturbing animal-cruelty case out of DeLand is drawing attention across Volusia County after police said two dogs died from heat stroke after being left inside a locked vehicle for hours. While the incident did not happen in Edgewater, it is the kind of county public-safety and animal-welfare story that many local readers follow closely, especially as warmer spring temperatures return and pet safety becomes a recurring concern.

According to FOX 35 Orlando, DeLand police arrested David Micale, 61, on two felony charges of animal torture to inflict serious pain or death. Investigators said shoppers first noticed the dogs in a vehicle at a Walmart parking lot just before 1 p.m. on April 6. The witnesses reportedly saw the apparent owner stumbling toward a wooded area nearby. When they returned about two hours later, the dogs were still inside and the owner had not come back, prompting a call to authorities.

Police said the vehicle’s doors were locked and windows were closed. One responding officer reportedly saw one dog panting and another lying down in the back seat. Authorities later found Micale in a wooded area, where he allegedly said he had been taking a nap after drinking. According to the arrest affidavit cited by FOX 35, he appeared confused about how long the dogs had been in the car and had trouble keeping his balance.

When the dogs were finally removed, one was already not breathing and the second was barely alive, according to investigators. The second dog died while being taken to a veterinarian. Police said the animal’s internal temperature was 109 degrees, with symptoms consistent with heat stroke. The report also said Micale told officers the dogs had last been taken out of the car in the early morning hours.

Why Edgewater readers may care: Cases like this often serve as a stark reminder that even air temperatures that do not seem extreme can become deadly inside a parked vehicle. The reported outside temperature was 78 degrees, but enclosed cars can heat rapidly. For pet owners in Edgewater and southeast Volusia, the case underscores a practical safety message as temperatures climb: never leave animals unattended in a vehicle, even briefly.

The case is now moving through the criminal-justice system, and Micale was taken to the Volusia County Branch Jail, according to the report. Beyond the charges, the incident is likely to renew public discussion about animal protection, bystander intervention, and how quickly conditions can turn fatal for pets. For readers in Edgewater, it is a tragic but useful reminder during the warmer months ahead.