Wisconsin man blames Rockton police for his dog’s death, starts fundraiser

Wisconsin man blames Rockton police for his dog’s death, starts fundraiser

WINNEBAGO COUNTY, Ill. (WIFR) - A man who was pulled over by Rockton police Monday afternoon claims the stop led to the death of his dog.

Waldemar Gonzalez of Wisconsin says his 8-month-old French Bulldog Kody suffered severe heatstroke while he was detained during a police stop in Rockton. Gonzalez says Kody was his emotional support animal.

Gonzalez claims he repeatedly asked for water and alerted the officer to dangerously hot conditions, but his requests were ignored. He says when he was released from custody, Kody died on the way to an emergency vet.

The National Weather Service shows temperatures in the Rockford area reached a high of 96 degrees Monday, July 27, with heat index values near 110 degrees.

Gonzalez launched a GoFundMe to raise money for a veterinary necropsy to determine how Kody died, as well as cremation and memorial services. In the GoFundMe, Gonzalez says he plans to hire an attorney to pursue a lawsuit and fight for accountability. So far, the GoFundMe has raised more than $1,000 of its $2,800 goal.

The Rockton Police Department addressed Gonzalez’s claims and says posts circulating on social media contain inaccurate information.

Rockton police say when the officer stopped Gonzalez’s vehicle, the vehicle lacked air conditioning and did not have food or water for the dog. According to police, Gonzalez and the dog were placed in the air-conditioned back seat of the officer’s squad car. The officer reports the dog was breathing heavily at the time and defecated in the squad car. The officer then took Gonzalez to a nearby gas station and the dog was brought inside with the clerk’s permission, given bottled water and ice and the dog appeared to improve.

Before leaving, Gonzalez reportedly thanked the officer, shook his hand and said he was returning to Wisconsin.

“We understand that social media allows information to spread quickly. However, inaccurate or incomplete information can create unnecessary confusion and misrepresent the actions of those involved. We encourage everyone to seek information from credible, verified sources before sharing or drawing conclusions,” Rockton police shared on its Facebook page.

Rockton police said Gonzalez was cited for driving 15-20 miles per hour over the speed limit, operating an un uninsured motor vehicle and driving on a suspended license.

This story is developing and will be updated.

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