Cruelty to Animals Arrest

On June 11, 2023, the Portsmouth Police Department responded to the parking lot of 100 Durgin Lane for a report of an unresponsive dog in a vehicle.  On scene investigation discovered the owner of the vehicle had left a dog, which was a Terrier mix, in a vehicle with the windows up for several hours.  Upon the arrival of officers, the dog was found to be deceased.  The outside temperature was in the mid 70’s with the internal temperature of the vehicle recorded at 125 degrees. Officers found a small bowl of food and a very small amount of water on the rear passenger seat. The dog was brought to a local veterinary hospital for a necropsy.  The owner, 52-year-old Susan Weilbrenner of Tamworth, NH was arrested on scene for Animals in Motor Vehicles: RSA 644:8H and Cruelty to Animals 644:8-AA both misdemeanor charges.  She was bailed on personal recognizance and provided a court date of July 17, 2023 in Portsmouth District Court.

The Portsmouth Police Department would like to remind everyone that it is dangerous to leave your pet in a closed vehicle even for a short period of time. It only takes 20 minutes for the interior of the vehicle to reach over 100 degrees on a 70 degree day.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Patrolman Christian Peete at 603-427-1500. Anonymous tips can be made through Seacoast Crime Stoppers by calling (603) 431-1199, online at www.seacoastcrimestoppers.com , and through the new “P3” phone app available as a free download for Apple and Android phones.  Rewards of up to $1,000.00 may be paid for help solving cases if the information leads to an arrest or indictment of a suspect(s)