Three dogs neglected, abandoned in home
Canton, OH (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Nov 6, 2008
County: Stark
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: man
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
Police removed three dogs found living amid their own waste in a house at 601 Prospect Ave. SW.
No human occupied the residence, only the canines.
K-9 Officer Chris Heslop said it appeared someone infrequently took care of the animals, leaving food in a bin for them, but kept the dogs confined inside the house. At least one dog had eye injuries.
"It could've been a family pet to someone else," he said.
Heaps of decaying feces, spoiled dog food and other waste littered most rooms.
Claw marks could be seen on doors and window frames, which were partially boarded up, which police believe was the result of the animals trying to get out.
Heslop said he believes these conditions have been like this for six months to a year.
Mark Adams, the city's environmental health director, said because no human was living in the home, it is not a public health issue.
A health inspector investigated the conditions of the residence four times, including today, since May 6.
He said it is only a public health matter if the conditions affect children, neighbors or a health inspector.
However, Adams said the agency did notify the Stark County Humane Society about the canines.
An official for the Humane Society declined comment, saying there is a police investigation.
However, she did confirm they had the canines.
Heslop said officers Are looking for the dogs' owner. He anticipates charges being filed.
Case UpdatesA man wanted by police after they removed three dogs from a feces-filled house this week has surrendered to police.
The 37-year-old Quimby Avenue SW man turned himself in to Stark County sheriff's deputies at the Stark County Jail shortly before 7 p.m. Friday, jail records said. He was wanted on warrants charging him with three counts of cruelty to animals.
The charges are second-degree misdemeanors, punishable upon conviction by a maximum sentence of 90 days in jail and a $750 fine. The Repository does not generally name misdemeanor crime suspects.
He has since been released on his own recognizance, jail records said.
He was wanted in connection with an incident at 601 Prospect Ave. SW, where three dogs were found living in their own waste.
Jackie Godbey of the Stark County Humane Society told The Repository that the dogs had been living in "completely uninhabitable" conditions for anywhere from six months to a year.
Decaying feces, spoiled food and trash filled the house, although someone had left food and water for them, police said.
Canton Police K-9 Officer Chris Heslop was alerted to conditions the dogs were living in when a neighbor complained about barking. | Source: Canton Repository - Nov 9, 2008
Update posted on Nov 9, 2008 - 5:39PM |
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