Dog neglected, locked in storage unit Epping, NH (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Oct 7, 2010 County: Rockingham
Charges: Misdemeanor Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Justin Vose
Little Millie appeared to be enjoying herself as she bounced around a pen outside a local animal shelter yesterday.
The environment was much different from the one police found her in last week when they responded to a report of a dog barking inside a unit at an Epping storage facility.
Millie, a 1 1/2-year-old terrier mix, was found sitting in a small cage inside the darkened unit at Epping Storage Place on Route 125.
It wasn't a personal item that one would expect to find inside a rented storage unit.
Moments after she was found, Millie was seized by police and the Derry man who was supposed to be dog-sitting was charged with animal cruelty.
Justin Vose, 26, of 23 Fairway Drive, Apt. 3723, faces a misdemeanor count of cruelty to animals after police said he placed her inside the unit and left her with no food or water.
Police Sgt. Jason Newman said police were called to the storage facility directly across from State Police Troop A around 4 p.m. on Oct. 7 to investigate reports from other renters who had heard a dog barking constantly while they were there.
With assistance from the storage facility's owner, police were able to open the door to the unit.
"The dog appeared to be in distress," Newman said.
While Millie wasn't injured, Newman said she was left with no food or water inside the unit without lighting and was placed inside a cage that appeared too small.
"Our concern was, although it was a small dog, the kennel it was being held in was extremely small and the dog really couldn't even move," Newman said.
There was also no way to regulate the temperature of the unit, Newman said.
The owners of Epping Storage Place do not allow renters to store animals in their units, and they had no idea that the dog was there until other customers reported Millie's barks, Newman said.
It appeared that Millie had been inside the unit for at least a day or more, Newman said.
Millie was brought to the New Hampshire Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals where she remained in custody yesterday.
Newman said the dog belonged to Vose's friend and that he was caring for her. He wasn't allowed to have pets at his residence so he placed Millie in the storage unit, which was being rented by the friend, Newman said.
Newman declined to identify the friend because the individual was not facing charges.
Vose, who could not be reached for comment yesterday, was released on his own recognizance and is scheduled to be arraigned on Nov. 5 in Exeter District Court. References |