Overview
- A Lake County judge found FMK9 owner Michael McHenry not guilty in a bench trial tied to the 2023 incident.
- Indiana State Police said the box truck’s cargo area lacked ventilation, in-cab monitoring and a temperature alarm, and relied on a substandard cooling setup.
- Officials reported eight or nine of roughly 18–19 dogs died or were euthanized after the truck broke down in Lake Station during transport from O’Hare to a Michigan training facility.
- State police announced the case’s charges were dismissed and issued a statement expressing disappointment with the court’s decision.
- PETA condemned the ruling, and officials said surviving dogs were taken to the training facility and later placed with law-enforcement agencies.