Judge sets $50,000 bail for man arrested after finding six dead dogs

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — A judge has set bail at $50,000 for a man arrested after six dead dogs were found in a U-Haul truck Tuesday night.

Las Vegas police were called after someone spotted an “unattended animal in distress” in a vehicle in the 3100 block of North Tenaya Way, near Cheyenne Avenue.

Investigators spoke with a security guard at Mountain View Hospital, who told officers that the vehicle had only been there for about 30 minutes before officers arrived. According to an arrest report, police asked for video footage of the parked vehicle and the person exiting the vehicle.

The arrest report states that the vehicle was not turned on at the time and the windows were open about four inches. When animal control officers used a temperature sensor in the vehicle’s cabin, it showed a temperature of 57 degrees.

Officers said the doors were locked and they saw a small Australian Shepherd in distress, so they smashed the passenger window to rescue the dog.

According to the report, officers decided to check the back of the U-Haul because someone might be inside and they suspected someone was living inside “due to the junk, trash and items in the cabin.”

When investigators opened the bed of the U-Haul truck, they found six dead dogs.

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While officers were on scene, according to the report, a man later identified as Christopher Robin Winter approached them and pointed at the U-Haul in “disbelief.” When they asked him if it was his vehicle, he said “yes” and was arrested.

When Winter realized the dogs were dead, he became “uncontrollable and unruly,” the report said. He repeatedly said he had only been inside for a “short time.”

The report states that officers told him the dogs in the back seat were not restrained, “were probably jumping around” and “appeared to have been dead for a long time.”

Police said they found Winter had the keys to a second vehicle, a Ford Escape. Officers found six dogs that were “distraught but alive.” Animal control measured the temperature in the Ford Escape and said the temperature was 115 degrees despite the air conditioning being on.

The report states that animal control recognized the possibility that several animals were also at Winter’s North Las Vegas home and notified police, who conducted a welfare check of the animal in the home.

During an interview with investigators, the report states, Winter told officers he was in the process of vacating his apartment because he could no longer pay the rent, which is why he rented the U-Haul. A woman he lived with followed him in the Escape and the two drove to Mountain View Hospital, where she had an appointment.

Winter also told police that after dropping them off, he went out to buy water and ice for all the animals because it was hot outside. He said when he returned, police were there. He said he understood it was hot and that “he had made a mistake and his mistake cost the lives of his dogs.”

Winter is accused of six counts of animal cruelty and a drug offense. The report states that during a body search, officers found methamphetamine in Winter’s bag.

The report states that Winter had gotten into trouble before for keeping too many animals. In 2019, North Las Vegas Animal Services came to his home in North Las Vegas and he received a warning for keeping too many dogs in his home.

His next hearing is scheduled for June 17.

The live animals were brought to the Animal Foundation, where they are still being evaluated as they go through the shelter process, meaning they have received their intake vaccinations, food, water and bedding.

The animals are detained while the investigation continues.

Their terms had not been announced as of 2 p.m.