Lang
10/5/24
A transient whose dogs died from neglect at the Coralville Reservoir has been given a two-week jail sentence.
Judge Brandon Schrock handed that sentence down to 46-year-old Thomas Pagels on Tuesday. Pagels pleaded guilty to a pair of Animal Neglect Causing Serious Injury or Death charges…charges that carry a maximum sentence of two years in jail each.
The incident occurred on July 3rd at Sugar Bottom Campground. According to the criminal complaint, Pagels left his two dogs in a two-foot-by-three-foot cage from approximately 7am until 5pm. The cage was covered by a grill tarp that allowed no air to circulate. Deputies say it was entirely too small for the 50- and 75-pound dogs, and the temperatures on that day hit 85 degrees with high humidity.
The two dogs died due to the heat.