A Niles man is due in court next week on two counts of animal cruelty after allegedly leaving a dog inside his car while he was inside Hollywood Gaming in Austintown.

A July 7 hearing has been set for 55-year-old Charles Winwood to answer the second-degree misdemeanor counts in  Mahoning County Court.

Austintown Police were called to the gaming venue’s parking lot in May after someone spotted the dog inside the vehicle. Police were able to unlock the vehicle and good Samaritans helped get the dog out.

Animal Charity has been caring for the pit bull mix since it was taken to a veterinary hospital for treatment of heat exposure and dehydration.

Winwood, who was arrested at the scene, told police he had lost track of time.