Attorneys/Judges
| Prosecutor(s): | Wendy Wexler Horn | | Judge(s): | James H. Kelly |
Images for this Case
K-9 dog neglected, emaciated with severe mange
Potosi, MO (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Feb 13, 2008
County: Washington
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 3 files available
Alleged: Lance Mason
Case Updates: 7 update(s) available
The Missouri Police Canine Association is investigating how a dog in the care of the Washington County Sheriff's Department got in the condition it did. The sheriff's department is conducting its own investigation.
The Washington County Sheriff's Department adopted 1-year-old Mosley from the Illinois-based Midwest Bloodhound Rescue Inc. in January of 2007. They planned to use the bloodhound for search and rescues and public relations events.
A year later, Capt. Charles LaLumondiere, who had signed the adoption agreement, contacted the group to let them know the dog was unhealthy and the department wanted its money back or a new dog.
On Feb. 13, a volunteer went to pick up the dog. According to their Web site, the dog was found in a 4 by 4 dirt-floor pen outside a trailer. The dog had no food, water or bedding.
"His condition was such that we rushed him to an emergency vet that night," the Web site states.
The dog reportedly suffered from frostbite, malnutrition and dehydration, severe hair loss (mange), ear and eye infections, seborrhea of the skin, cellulitis, and anemia.
Missouri Police Canine Association President Gary White, a retired officer who is a master trainer and state coordinator for the national canine association, learned about the incident days later. He was disturbed and worried that this would leave a black mark on any police canine group.
If it was just mange, White could understand the situation. The dog had an outbreak of mange before the adoption but now the dog was 30 pounds under weight and had frostbite.
"I'm trying to find out who is responsible and how it happened," he said.
He said the dog didn't get like this in one day. He said it appears the department didn't do anything to take care of it. He also wants to know why they waited a year to "train" the dog.
When White first learned about the situation, he thought someone must have posed as a deputy to get the dog. But after talking with Captain LaLumondiere, handler Lance Mason, a member of the Sheriff's Department, and Sheriff Kevin Schroeder that was not the case.
"I don't know if the sheriff or the captain knew of the dog's condition," he said. "Someone got this dog in this condition and we will not let it go. If they are a member of the sheriff's department then they shouldn't be any more."
He believes the sheriff's department should pick up the Midwest's $700 emergency vet bill and hand over their own vet records for Mosley. He said the person responsible should be disciplined and/or prosecuted for animal abuse.
Sheriff Schroeder said the dog had lived with LaLumondiere until the week after Thanksgiving. The only problem the dog had until then was what the vet determined to be a skin allergy. The dog was treated and had recovered by the time it was handed over to the department's handler for dog obedience training.
Soon after, the handler told Schroeder that the dog was losing hair and weight. Schroeder said he told him to take the dog to the vet. He said the dog was then diagnosed with incurable mange.
"We started making contact with (the rescue group)," Schroeder said. "By the time they got down here, apparently the dog was in really bad shape ... I found out about it through the Internet."
The sheriff, who has raised dogs of his own, said he is trying to get to the bottom of it through his own internal investigation. He is talking with White and the Midwest rescue group.
He said if there was neglect or abuse, it will be dealt with.
"It makes me sick, it makes me mad," he said.
In the adoption application, LaLumondiere stated he would keep the dog in the office or in a barn during the day and inside the house at night. Schroeder said LaLumondiere had problems becoming a certified handler.
The signed contract requires the adoptive family to provide prompt and timely vaccinations and proper veterinary care, and proper nutrition. It states that the dog shouldn't be tied up and a fence enclosure should be adequate shelter from the elements.
Sandy Singer, director of Midwest Bloodhound Rescue, said she is upset on so many levels. She feels she has been lied to and the sheriff's department didn't live up to their contract.
She said the dog is doing much better now. When they got the dog back, it was only 60 pounds - eight pounds lighter than when it was adopted. Within the last few weeks, the dog has gained 20 pounds and the infections are clearing up. The mange is being treated.
She said the dog cowers in fear at times and has a demeanor like it has been abused.
She said the dog was suppose to be a vital member of the community. She said the department had a lot of gall to demand a refund.
She said someone contacted PETA - People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, and she has provided them with information.
Chad Brown, who has filed against Schroeder for sheriff and is currently a canine handler for the Bonne Terre Police Department, told the Daily Journal Tuesday that a Mosley Vet Fund has been set up at Unico Bank.
Case UpdatesA former employee of an eastern Missouri sheriff's department has gone on trial, accused of abusing a rescued dog that was adopted by his department and placed in his care.
Lance Mason of Potosi is charged with two counts of animal abuse in the case of "Mosely," the 1-year-old bloodhound adopted by the Washington County Sheriff's Department. The department planned to train the dog for search and rescue operations.
Prosecutors said Mason failed to provide adequate food and water for the dog, and failed to provide needed medications. The dog was euthanized in June 2008.
Mason was a civilian employee of the sheriff's office. Mason was fired from his civilian job last year. | Source: STLToday - June 3, 2009
Update posted on Jun 7, 2009 - 12:25AM |
A former Washington County jailer's trial has been scheduled for March 4. St. Francois County Prosecuting Attorney Wendy Wexler Horn said Lance Mason's misdemeanor animal abuse case was recently set for trial in Washington County before St. Francois County Associate Judge James H. Kelly.
Mason is charged with two counts of misdemeanor animal abuse. Horn was named the special prosecutor after Washington County Prosecuting Attorney John Rupp disqualified himself from the case.
Mason is accused of failing to provide adequate care and treatment for Mosley, a bloodhound which the Washington County Sheriff's Department adopted and was going to train.
If convicted, Mason could be sentenced up to a year in the county jail or fined $1,000 on each charge. | Source: Daily Journal Online - Oct 25, 2008
Update posted on Oct 25, 2008 - 12:30PM |
Mosley the bloodhound, the dog whose care by an eastern Missouri sheriff's department worker led to misdemeanor charges of animal abuse, has been euthanized.
The dog was put down on Wednesday. Sandi Singer-Adams of Midwest Bloodhound Rescue Inc. said Mosley had become increasingly aggressive. He was euthanized after biting the woman who adopted him.
Singer-Adams believes the alleged mistreatment led to hormonal changes that resulted in the dog's bad behavior.
In May, Washington County jailer Lance Mason was charged with two counts of misdemeanor animal abuse. He was fired at that time.
The charges allege Mason failed to provide adequate food and water and failed to provide needed medication for the police dog.
The Washington County Sheriff's department adopted Mosley in January 2007. Mason began caring for and training the dog in November.
Authorities say Mosley was found three months later, in February, in a tiny pen with no food, water or bedding. A veterinarian diagnosed the dog with frostbite, malnutrition, dehydration, ear and eye infections and other ailments. | Source: Columbia Missourian - June 28, 2008
Update posted on Jun 29, 2008 - 1:26AM |
Special Prosecuting Attorney Wendy Wexler Horn, who filed misdemeanor animal abuse charges against Washington County Sheriff's Deptuy Lance Mason, reportedly said she spent many, many hours reviewing and thinking about the case. She said animal abuse by failing to provide adequate care is a misdemeanor. She said a felony charge by Missouri state law would need the element of torture.
At this time, she does not believe she will be filing any other charges against any other individuals. She said it seems clear the dog's condition was diagnosed and deteriorated while under the care solely of Mason.
Mason was placed on paid administrative leave in late February after investigations into the dog's care began.
On Wednesday morning, Washington County Sheriff Kevin Schroeder said he learned about the charges late Tuesday afternoon and he hadn't had a chance to make a decision about Mason's status with the department. He planned to make a decision by the end of business today.
He said a thorough investigation was done by his agency and a joint and independent investigation was done by the Humane Society. He believes they came to a truthful conclusion about the situation.
According to the probable cause statement signed by Missouri Humane Society Animal Cruelty Officers Kyle Held and Bonnie Dean, their investigation began on Feb. 28 at the request of Schroeder.
The dog was adopted from Midwest Bloodhound Rescue Inc. by Washington County Captain Charles Lalumondiere in January of 2007 with the purpose of using the dog for search and rescues.
The officers said in November of 2007, after the dog was seen by a veterinarian and treated for what was diagnosed as a skin allergy and "being in adequate body condition," Lalumondiere turned over the dog to Mason for continued care and canine training.
In January, Mason told the captain and the sheriff that the dog was in "bad shape" and losing weight and hair. Mason took the dog to Lawson Veterinary Clinic on Jan. 17 where the dog showed a weight loss of 32 pounds and was diagnosed with demodectic mange.
The vet's office recommended medications and food to help the dog in acquiring adequate caloric intake. They also recommended Mason change the dog's bedding to place the dog in a more comfortable area due to the skin condition.
According to the vet, the medication and food were available at the vet clinic through a charge account, but those foods and medications were never acquired.
The officers said the condition of the dog deteriorated and no further vet care was provided.
Lalumondiere contacted Midwest Bloodhound Rescue, Inc. in late January to let them know the dog was unhealthy and the department wanted its money back or a new dog.
On Feb. 13, a volunteer went to pick up the dog. According to their Web site, the dog was found in a 4 by 4 dirt-floor pen outside a trailer. The dog had no food, water or bedding.
He was taken to an emergency vet where it was determined the dog suffered from frostbite, malnutrition and dehydration, severe hair loss (mange), ear and eye infections, seborrhea of the skin, cellulitis, and anemia.
The rescue group said before the adoption, the dog had a localized or small outbreak of mange but it had fully recovered.
Sandi Singer, executive director of Midwest Bloodhound Rescue, said last week that Mosley is still doing well.
"(He's) pretty funny looking because his hair came back in a different color," she said, adding that is common with hypothyroidism. "It should revert to normal color after the next yearly molt.
She said his foster family is adopting him. They have moved from Louisiana, Mo. to southern Missouri.
She said he is still very leery/frightened by new men. "It takes him awhile to be comfortable around them," she said. "It will probably always be that way now." | Source: Daily Journal Online - May 28, 2008
Update posted on May 28, 2008 - 3:34PM |
A Washington County Sheriff's Department worker faces two misdemeanor counts of animal abuse after the department's police dog was found to be sick and malnourished.
Charges were filed Tuesday against 41-year-old Lance Mason of Potosi. Mason has been on administrative leave since an investigation began in February.
The department adopted the dog, Mosley, in January 2007 for use in search and rescues. The animal was turned over to Mason for care and training in November.
Authorities say the dog was found in February in a tiny pen with no food, water or bedding. A veterinarian diagnosed frostbite, malnutrition, dehydration, ear and eye infections and other ailments.
Midwest Bloodhound Rescue says Mosley is recovering and a foster family is adopting him. | Source: KansasCity.com - May 28, 2008
Update posted on May 28, 2008 - 3:11PM |
St. Francois County Prosecuting Attorney Wendy Wexler Horn has been appointed the special prosecutor for the recent "investigation into the Washington County Sheriff's Department."
Washington County Prosecuting Attorney John Rupp disqualified himself from the case since it involves Washington County deputies. In addition, his own investigator, Don Cooksey, investigated the situation which involves the treatment of a bloodhound.
Horn said on Thursday, she was hand-delivered a number of reports from Cooksey. The Humane Society has not yet completed its investigation and she is waiting on those reports before making a decision.
"I have been carefully reviewing what I have been given so far," she said late Friday morning.
The Washington County Sheriff's Department adopted a 1-year-old dog, Mosley, from the Illinois-based Midwest Bloodhound Rescue Inc. in January of 2007. They planned to use Mosley for search and rescues and public relations events. The dog had an outbreak of mange before the adoption, but had fully recovered.
A year later, Capt. Charles LaLumondiere, who had signed the adoption agreement, contacted the group to let them know the dog was unhealthy and the department wanted its money back or a new dog.
On Feb. 13, a volunteer went to pick up the dog. According to their Web site, the dog was found in a 4 by 4 dirt-floor pen outside a trailer. The dog had no food, water or bedding.
"His condition was such that we rushed him to an emergency vet that night," the Web site states.
The dog reportedly suffered from frostbite, malnutrition and dehydration, severe hair loss (mange), ear and eye infections, seborrhea of the skin, cellulitis, and anemia.
Sheriff Kevin Schroeder said the dog lived with LaLumondiere until the week after Thanksgiving. The only problem the dog had until then was what the vet determined to be a skin allergy. The dog was treated and had recovered by the time it was handed over to the department's handler for dog obedience training.
Soon after, the handler told Schroeder that the dog was losing hair and weight. Schroeder said he told him to take the dog to the vet. He said the dog was then diagnosed with incurable mange.
On Wednesday, Sandi Singer-Adams of Midwest Bloodhound Rescue Inc. said Mosley's condition continues to improve and he is still with a foster family. | Source: MyDJConnection - April 5, 2008
Update posted on Apr 19, 2008 - 9:19PM |
Investigations into the care of a Washington County Sheriff's Department bloodhound are still ongoing.
On Monday afternoon, Humane Society Investigator Kyle Held said the sheriff's department asked the Humane Society to assist Don Cooksey, who is acting as a special investigator for the sheriff's department. Held said he agreed to assist, but told them he would also be running his own investigation.
Held said since it involves employees of a sheriff's department, he wants the investigation to be extremely thorough. He said the staff members have been more than willing to cooperate.
He has received a 13-page report from the emergency vet clinic where the dog was taken on Feb. 13.
"I'm still putting all of the facts together," he said. "It is a very active investigation at this point."
The investigation will take at least the rest of this week and possibly next week, he said.
One employee was placed on administrative leave with pay last week.
Three messages were left with Sheriff Kevin Schroeder Monday, but the messages were not returned before today's deadline.
The Washington County Sheriff's Department adopted 1-year-old Mosley from the Illinois-based Midwest Bloodhound Rescue Inc., in January of 2007. They planned to use the bloodhound for search and rescues and public relations events.
A year later, Capt. Charles LaLumondiere, who had signed the adoption agreement, contacted the group to let them know the dog was unhealthy and the department wanted its money back or a new dog.
On Feb. 13, a volunteer went to pick up the dog. According to their Web site, the dog was found in a 4 by 4 dirt-floor pen outside a trailer. The dog had no food, water or bedding.
He was taken to an emergency vet where it was determined the dog suffered from frostbite, malnutrition and dehydration, severe hair loss (mange), ear and eye infections, seborrhea of the skin, cellulitis, and anemia.
The rescue group said before the adoption, the dog had a localized or small outbreak of mange but it had fully recovered.
Schroeder said the dog had lived with LaLumondiere until the week after Thanksgiving. The only problem the dog had until then was what the vet determined to be a skin allergy. The dog was treated and had recovered by the time it was handed over to the department's handler for dog obedience training.
Soon after, the handler told Schroeder that the dog was losing hair and weight. Schroeder said he told him to take the dog to the vet. He said the dog was then diagnosed with incurable mange.
Missouri Police Canine Association President Gary White said the mange is treatable. He said the dog has gained 20 pounds and will likely be on medication the rest of his life because the malnutrition affected his thyroid. The dog is staying with a foster family in Louisiana, Mo. | Source: My Daily Journal Connection - March 4, 2008
Update posted on Mar 10, 2008 - 5:43PM |
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