Dog choked with extension cord, dumped in trash
Elyria, OH (US)Incident Date: Tuesday, Jun 15, 2010
County: Lorain
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Charles Craigo
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
A 28-year-old Elyria man has been charged for allegedly abusing and trying to kill a dog that was found earlier this month in a Baldwin Avenue garbage can with an extension cord wrapped around its neck.
Charles Craigo is charged with cruelty to animals, attempted destruction of an animal and two separate counts of cruelty to companion animals, all misdemeanors.
Charlie the dog managed to knock the garbage can over and crawl into a neighbor’s flower bed. He was found by several neighborhood children.
Elyria City Prosecutor Jay Grunda said Friday that the injuries inflicted on the 10-month-old male husky-collie mix ranked pretty high on the list of animal cruelty cases he’s seen in his career.
It was a sentiment echoed by Animal Protective League Humane Officer Denise Willis, who said Friday that Charlie is well on his way to recovering from the substantial wounds, including a cracked skull, he received before he was rescued June 15.
Willis said Charlie should be available for adoption soon.
“He’ll make somebody a great little pet,” she said.
Willis has said Craigo told her that “I thought the dog was dead, so I threw it in the garbage.” A neighbor told Willis that Craigo said he tried to kill Charlie because he couldn’t afford to take the dog to the vet.
She also said that the dog had a hole in its head, bloodshot eyes and looked as if he had been shot with a BB gun.
Grunda said Craigo told investigators there was a reason he threw the dog in the garbage can.
“His statement was that he was trying to kill it because it was hit by a car,” he said.
But Willis said she doubts that story because Charlie’s injuries didn’t appear consistent with being hit by a car. Craigo’s explanation that the dog had been hit by the car after running away the night before and then returning home just doesn’t add up, she said.
“Even if his story was true, he let that dog lay in the house and suffer all that time,” Willis said.
She said she checked on the welfare of two other dogs living in Craigo’s house on Thursday, and those dogs appeared fine.
If convicted, Craigo could receive jail or fines in the case. He is due in court next month.
Anyone interested in donating to cover Charlie’s medical care or wants to adopt him can contact the APL at (440) 322-4321.
The adoption will be handled using the lottery system the APL uses in high-profile cases.
Case UpdatesThe owner of dog that was found with an extension cord around its neck in a garage can is facing several misdemeanor charges in connection with injuries his pet.
Charles A. Craigo, who lives on Baldwin Avenue, was charged with two misdemeanor counts of cruelty to companion animals, one count of cruelty to animals and attempted and one count of attempted destruction of an animal by police Friday.
Craigo is scheduled to appear in Elyria Municipal Court at 10 a.m. July 14, according to court documents.
Charlie, a dog owned by Craigo, was found on June 15 inside a garbage can outside of Craigo's Baldwin Avenue home. The 10-month old male husky-collie mix has a cracked skull, an extension cord around its neck and numerous other injuries when found.
Craigo told NewsChannel5 during an exclusive interview that he thought the dog because it was struck by a vehicle after climbing over a fence.
The Lorain County Animal Protective League, which currently has custody of Charlie, said the dog's injuries don't reflect being hit by a vehicle.
Charlie, who is recovering from his injuries, is expected to be adopted through a lottery.
Anyone interest in adopting Charlie can call the APL at 440- 322- 4321. | Source: WEWS - Jun 28, 2010
Update posted on Jun 28, 2010 - 5:41PM |
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