After Dog’s Death In Loudoun, Owner Blames Police

A dog owner is blaming the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office for the death of his pet, and the incident has many animal owners upset.

Both the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office and the county's Animal Control Department are investigating how the dog, a mixed-breed named Rex, died.

The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office says Rex's owner, Stuart Grimes, was arrested inside a Sterling, Va. pancake restaurant around 5 a.m. last Friday.

Deputies found the 24-year-old asleep and intoxicated inside the restaurant, according to the Sheriff's office. Grimes says he told both the arresting deputies and officers at the county's detention center that his dog Rex was inside his car, and says his pleas to rescue the dog were ignored.

When Grimes returned to the restaurant, an IHOP on Cedar Lake Boulevard, after being released that evening, he found Rex dead.

At this time, sheriff's office records show no indication that Grimes mentioned a dog or a vehicle to officials, officials say. A Facebook page named Justice for Rex has more than 3,000 "likes," and hundreds of comments, many have expressing anger over the incident.

Outside the restaurant, a small sign with a picture and flowers mark the spot where Rex died.