A Jefferson County judge sentenced a Fort Collins man to 60 days in jail and two years of probation after he left his dog in a hot car while he played an 18-hole round of golf. 

Despite it being over 80 degrees outside, the man never checked on the dog — even as he made the turn after nine holes, according to a news release from the 1st Judicial District Attorney’s office. The dog sat in the car for four hours before dying from heat exhaustion.

Michael Reynolds, 31, pleaded guilty to one count of animal cruelty in connection to the death of his dog “Keef” on July 4. 2023.

Tuesday, Jefferson County Judge Jennifer Melton sentenced Reynolds to a 60-day jail sentence and probation, along with 100 hours of community service, monitored sobriety, a dog ownership class, court fines and fees and no dog ownership for two years.

Reynolds stopped to play a round of golf at the Foothills Golf Course in Littleton on July 4 around 9 a.m. He left his German Shepard in the car. He claimed that he left water and the window cracked, according to the news release.

Around 12 p.m., a witness heard whimpering from the car and saw no windows cracked. They attempted to find the owner. Other witnesses approached the vehicle and noted that the breathing from the dog was heavy enough to fog the windows.

One bystander used a golf club to break the rear driver’s side window. Another person climbed in to open the door. The dog was not breathing. Bystanders attempted CPR, to no avail.

Reynolds returned to the vehicle around 1 p.m., according to the release. He was “extremely distraught” when learned about his dog.

Officers issued a summons at the scene. The dog was taken to the Foothills Animal Shelter where they confirmed he had died from heat exhaustion.

An Animal Control officer claimed that the heat in the vehicle could have reached 130 degrees. 

Melton noted that Reynold’s actions were “not just negligent but highly reckless, as leaving a dog in a car for several hours while drinking beer and golfing is unacceptable and deserving of a jail sentence,” according to the release.

Reynolds attorneys filed an emergency motion to appeal the sentence imposed by the judge. The attorney, Steven Brown, did not return a call and emails from The Denver Gazette seeking comment.