Dog dies on Glendale apartment's patio, possibly due to heat

For the first time FOX 10 is seeing photos of the Lab-Dalmatian mix puppy that died after being left out in the heat earlier this summer. Glendale Police released its report on the puppy's death Wednesday morning.

The owner is now facing a felony animal cruelty charge.

Her name was Rihanna and now it appears she died a painful death when her owner left her outside on a patio balcony on a hot June day in Glendale.

The 6-month-old Labrador mix died at the Northern Greens Apartments near 61st Avenue and Northern Avenue, possibly due to heat related issues.

'It didn't have to happen. It was totally preventable."

Rocky Buch, a neighbor, called police on June 5, telling them she could see the dog on a nearby balcony in extreme distress and it had no water.

When officers arrived at the scene, they eventually had to call firefighters, who used a ladder to get to the puppy -- but by then, it was too late.

In his report, the officer writes that he watched the panting puppy stop breathing before they could reach him.

Glendale Police also released a recording of their interview with the dog's owner, Adrian Gonzalez. The 28-year-old told them he and his wife and children had the brought the dog from Mexico in February.

Gonzalez told police they left Rihanna with a bowl of water around 3:00 p.m. He says they thought the dog, who slept in a storage area next to the balcony had shelter. They told police they put the puppy outside when they're gone because she would chew and damage items in their apartment.

Officers tried to educate Gonzalez about how deadly the summer heat can be.

Gonzalez says there was such a firestorm of anger over the event that he and his family had to leave their apartment fearing for their safety.

He is facing a felony animal cruelty charge. The county attorney's office said this case is still under review.