Editor’s Note: The video in the above player is from a previous report.
Criminal charges against the owner of a suburban pet daycare stemming from the death of a dog who was left in a hot van were dismissed on Friday, according to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office.
An animal cruelty charge against Ross Niehaus, the owner of Wheeling-based Waggles Pet Resort, was dropped during a court hearing because “evidence did not demonstrate that the charged individual knowingly engaged in conduct that would make him criminally responsible for the dog’s death,” CCSAO said in a statement.
The charges stemmed from the early Sept. death of a 6-year-old black lab named Miller.
“We recognize the tremendous pain of losing a beloved family pet, particularly under such tragic circumstances. Prosecutors must evaluate cases based on the evidence and whether it supports each element required to prove a criminal offense,” CCSAO said in a statement. “While the outcome was tragic, the evidence does not support proceeding with the criminal charge and today the misdemeanor case was dismissed.”
Steve Serota, Miller’s owner, told NBC Chicago he is “extremely disappointed” that the case was dismissed.
Serota told NBC Chicago in an interview after the tragedy that he got a call from Waggles around 4 p.m. on Sept. 3 — 7 hours after Miller was picked up by the company he was a regular with for all but the first year of his life — and was told that his dog was dead.
He was told that Miller was left in the sweltering van for hours on a day when Wheeling was under a heat advisory as temperatures rose into the 90s and heat indices into the triple digits.
“Knowing what it must’ve been like for him to be in there is absolutely heartbreaking,” Serota said. “Dogs depend on you to protect them.”
Waggles’ chauffeur service picks pets up and takes them to the company’s facility, located at 419 Harvester Court in Wheeling, that is described as veterinary recommended “premiere resort for pets,” with private suite overnight care, training and dog grooming services.
“Part of our goal at Waggles is to make life easier for pet parents,” the resort website said. “That’s why we offer a safe and convenient chauffeur service to and from your home and our resort. Our temperature-controlled transport van is spacious, secure and comfortable. Let us chauffeur your pet in style.”
Especially given Miller’s size, Serota told NBC Chicago in September that he didn’t understand how his beloved dog could have been left behind and for so long.
“He’s loud. He’s big, he’s right at your eye level. And the fact of the matter, if they missed him there, how did they not know he was not there the whole day?” Serota said. “It does not make sense how something like this could happen. When I walked up to that van, the first thing you see, he is in the first crate. He is literally the first thing you see when you open that up. It doesn’t compute as to how someone could leave him there. And leave him there for hours.”
It was not immediately clear if a civil case would be opened against Waggles Pet Resort and Niehaus for Miller’s death.
Hence then, the article about criminal case related to death of dog left in hot suburban pet daycare van dropped was published today ( ) and is available on NBC Chicago ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Criminal case related to death of dog left in hot suburban pet daycare van dropped )
Also on site :
- Kiteworks urges customers to shut down their servers amid ‘imminent’ threat of cyberattack
- Of All the New Netflix Shows to Watch This Weekend, These Are the 3 You Absolutely Need to See (Sept. 25-27, 2026)
- The Oligarch Part 4: This man made billions in Ukraine, befriended Soros – and bought a place at the West’s table