Mother and daughter from Bridgewater released on personal recognizance after dogs die in hot car

BROCKTON – A mother and daughter faced charges in District Court today in connection with the fatalities of their two dogs, which were trapped inside a sweltering car for more than 90 minutes, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz revealed.

Lisa Smith, 59, and her daughter Rachel Smith, 33, both of Bridgewater, entered not guilty pleas to one count of animal cruelty and one count of confining an animal in a vehicle under extreme heat or cold conditions. The pair were freed on personal recognizance, subject to requirements including mental health assessments, a ban on owning or handling pets, and no unmonitored interactions with animals. Prosecutors had sought $5,000 cash bail for each.

The case traces back to the afternoon of July 16th, when Bridgewater Police arrived at a Heather Lane address after reports of two distressed women outside a structure. Officers discovered the lifeless dogs inside a vehicle and pieced together that the animals had perished after being shut inside with no ventilation or cooling for over 90 minutes. Initial findings indicated Lisa had confined the dogs to the car amid their disruptive behavior before departing with Rachel for errands in a separate auto parked nearby, providing a direct line of sight to the occupied vehicle. The women did not alert authorities even after finding the dogs dead hours later. A post-incident temperature check by responding officers registered at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit inside the car.

Lisa and Rachel Smith are due back in court on December 4th.