Crime & Safety
Man Left Dogs in Car, Went to Casino: Joliet Police
Chicago man was at Hollywood Casino for four hours while his dogs were in a car with the windows rolled up, police said.
A Chicago man left two dogs in his car while he spent four hours at Hollywood Casino in Joliet, police said.
Robert Valzonis, 74, of the 5800 block of Sayre Avenue, allegedly parked his vehicle in the parking deck at the casino, 777 Hollywood Boulevard, at around 11:30 a.m. Saturday, police said.
At 3:24 p.m., a passer-by called police and reported seeing the dogs still in the car with no food or water, Joliet Cmdr. Al Roechner said.
The temperature Saturday was about 77 degrees, Roechner said. The windows of the vehicle were rolled up when the dogs, both Chows, were found, he said.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the temperature inside a vehicle can increase by 20 degrees in just 10 minutes.
Police used the casino paging system to contact Valzonis, who received a complaint ticket for animal cruelty.
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