SKOWHEGAN (AP) — A Fairfield man charged with causing the death of his dog by dragging it along the road during extreme heat has been released on $1,000 bail.

James Wiggins pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Skowhegan District Court to a charge of animal cruelty.

The 43-year-old Wiggins was arrested July 14 after Fairfield police received multiple reports of a walking man dragging a dog along a on a hot and humid day. Some witnesses said the man appeared intoxicated.

The dog, a 4-year-old mixed breed, was taken to Kennebec Veterinary Service in Oakland, where it later died of hyperthermia and complications related to heat exhaustion.

The Morning Sentinel (http://bit.ly/1b8OjhY ) reported that Wiggins refused comment outside court.