NAZARETH, Pa. – Police in Nazareth, Northampton County are accusing a man of leaving his dog outside on a night when temperatures were in the single digits.
Leslie Hamm Jr., 51, is charged with cruelty to animals and neglect of animals-shelter/protection, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
An officer found the dog outside after being sent to Hamm’s home for an animal complaint call shortly after 11:30 p.m. on Jan. 23, court paperwork says. After speaking with the person who reported the incident, the officer estimated the dog had been outside since 10:40 p.m., according to court documents.
Police said the temperature around the time when the dog was outside was 8 degrees, with the real feel wind chill in the negatives.
Officers were not able to make contact with Hamm after banging on his door, according to court paperwork.
The dog did not have a proper shelter outside to get into and did not have access to food or water, court documents say.
Court documents say other Nazareth police officers had been at the home for the same issue on December 22, 2025. Officers at that time gave Hamm a warning for leaving the dog outside in harsh conditions, police said.