CROWN POINT, Ind. — Two men who transported a truck full of dogs from Chicago to a dog training school in Berrien Center, Michigan, have been charged in connection with the deaths of several dogs. According to the Associated Press, the dogs were transported on a hot day in a box truck that had a “substandard cooling system,” causing the dogs to overheat during the trip.

Michael McHenry, 55, and Jessee Urbaszewski, 44, were both charged with 18 counts of neglect of a vertebrate animal. The incident resulted in the deaths of nine dogs. According to police, McHenry is the owner and head trainer of FM K9 in Berrien Center, where dogs are trained to be police dogs.

The men were transporting the animals from O’Hare International Airport to the FM K9 facility on July 27, 2023, when they stopped for gas. During the stop, Urbaszewski noticed the dogs were in distress and contacted authorities.

On the day of the incident, the temperature was reportedly 90 degrees while the dogs were locked in the van.

First responders and good Samaritans attempted to help the dogs, but three of the animals died at the scene and six others had to be euthanized due to their condition. Jennifer Webber, executive director of the Humane Society of Hobart, was one of the people on the scene that day. She said the dogs were showing signs of heat stroke.

“Our professional opinion at the time has been confirmed,” Webber said of the indictment. “We saw that there was negligence.”

According to Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter, both defendants face a maximum of one year in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. Both men turned themselves in to police on Tuesday and were released from jail after McHenry posted $36,000 bail and Urbaszewski posted $18,000 bail.