Dogs starved to death
Alton, IL (US)

Incident Date: Monday, Aug 20, 2007
County: Madison

Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Steven Paul Carter

An Alton man was charged Wednesday with aggravated animal cruelty for allegedly letting two dogs die of starvation and lack of water.

Steven Paul Carter, 42, of 3805 Oscar St., is accused of causing the deaths of two Brittany Spaniels.

Brad Northway, an animal control officer for Alton, stated in an affidavit that he went to Carter's home on Monday after receiving a report about a dead dog there, and "immediately noticed a strong odor of decay."

Northway stated that one of the dead dogs was in a fenced area, and the other was in a dog house.

Northway said neighbors had seen Carter coming and going recently, but they hadn't heard the dogs barking for several days.

"The neighbors further stated they had asked Mr. Carter about the dogs, and he told them they were in the backyard and they were fine," Northway stated in the affidavit.

Aggravated animal cruelty is a felony carrying a maximum sentence of three years in prison.

Associate Judge Janet Heflin set Carter's bail at $25,000. Carter was being held Wednesday afternoon at the Alton City Jail.

Police searched Carter's home and seized eight guns.

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