A Tyrone man was jailed after his English Bulldog was found in a hot truck in an Altoona parking lot on Wednesday. Arrested was 43-year-old Jason Smith, who was jailed on a felony charge of animal cruelty. Reportedly, Allegheny Township Police were finishing an investigation at a crash scene when bystanders alerted them to a dog inside a truck parked in a lot off Plank Road. Authorities found the dog unable to get up, panting, and surrounded by its own feces. Bystanders gave the dog water and tried to cool the animal down with wet towels, but sadly the dog died of heat stroke on the way to Sylvan Veterinary Hospital in Duncansville. Staff at the hospital reported the dog’s internal temperature was 108 degrees, and was hot to touch. The inside of the truck was reported to be around 120 degrees. Outside was 81. Smith has been placed in the Blair County Prison. Bail has been set at $50,000.
Tuesday 10th March 2026
