SMITHTOWN, N.Y. (WCBS 880) -- A seeing and hearing impaired woman on Long Island is accusing the Guide Dog Foundation of leaving her dog in a hot car to die.
Michelle Krupa, 55, dropped her three-year-old guide dog Milton off at the in Smithtown campus for special training on July 7 and died weeks later during the heat wave after he was left in a hot car.
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"He didn't die because he was old, he didn't die because he was sick and I didn't get to say goodbye to him. He passed away because of a human error," Krupa said.
Krupa is hearing impaired and in the last stages of Usher syndrome, a rare genetic disease which will make her permanently blind.
The Guide Dog Foundation said they are conducting a thorough review of the events leading up to the tragedy.
"It is with sadness we can confirm that a guide dog from our program passed away on Friday, July 22, 2022, while in our care at the Smithtown campus," The Guide Dog Foundation said in a statement. "We are conducting a thorough review of the events leading to this tragedy. Based on the findings, we will take any additional necessary actions to prevent an occurrence like this from happening again."
Krupa said she knows the death of her dog was an accident but wants to prevent any other dogs from dying from being left in a hot car.
"The health, safety, and wellbeing of the dogs in our care as well as the individuals whom we serve is always our top priority. Our staff are passionate about the dogs in our care, and we are providing mental health resources as needed," the statement added.
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