Dog abandoned in apartment - Edmond, OK

Monday, Sep 20, 2010

County: Oklahoma

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Michael Jeffrey Hacker

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

A veterinarian is calling a recent animal cruelty case where a dog was abandoned in an apartment the worst case she has seen.

The dog, a corgi named Eiko, was lucky to be alive, veterinarian Kelly Berger was quoted as saying in a court affidavit.

Eiko had been without food or water for at least seven days when she was discovered Sept. 20 at Sunset Ridge Apartments, 930 S Boulevard, Apt. 230, court records show.

The dog was unable to stand or hold her head up without help, her coat was covered with urine and feces and infested with fleas. The animal was underweight. Barger, who practices at Acre View Pet Hospital, told Edmond police, "She had likely been eating her own urine and feces to stay alive."

The dog was discovered inside a mesh pop-up crate. Two cats also were found in the apartment.

Michael Jeffrey Hacker, 24, has been charged in Oklahoma County District Court with three counts of cruelty to an animal. A warrant for his arrest has been issued.

Police went to the apartment after they were notified by the apartment manager, who said she received a bad check for rent Sept. 15. Utilities in the apartment were disconnected Aug. 30 for nonpayment.

Case Updates

A 24-year-old Broken Arrow man faces an animal neglect complaint after he moved out of an Edmond apartment and left a dog and two cats behind, police said. On Nov. 8, Michael Jeffrey Hacker, 24, of Broken Arrow, wanted on a felony warrant for cruelty to animals, turned himself in at the police station in downtown Edmond, according to an incident report released Friday. Officer Jimmy Gwartney was told by Police Capt. Nicki Smith that Hacker was scheduled to meet Smith back in October, but did not follow through with the meeting, according to the report. Hacker called Smith and told her he wanted to turn himself in for the warrant, police said. He arrived at the police station where he was arrested. He was transported to the Oklahoma County jail. In the incident report related to the arrest, Hacker's address was listed as being in Broken Arrow. In a previous related report, his address was listed as being 930 S. Boulevard Apt. 230. On Sept. 9, Edmond Animal Welfare received a call from the Sunset Ridge Apartments, 930 S. Boulevard, stating that the renter of Apt. 230 had moved out and left a dog in a cage, police said. The electricity had been turned off. As Edmond Animal Welfare Officer Lacie Smith was receiving the information, she smelled strong ammonia-like odor coming from the apartment; the odor was so strong she had to don a face mask, police said. Inside, Smith found a tan corgi inside an air kennel by the front door. The dog was lying in its own urine and fecal matter, police said. The kennel contained no food or water bowls. And the dog appeared very lethargic. Police obtained a pickup order from Judge Alan Synar, and the order was posted on the door. Police said they learned the electricity was turned off on Aug. 30. At the apartment, the animal welfare officer noticed a bag of cat litter, which led to the discovery of two cats under a bed. Police found an empty bag of cat food, two empty bowls and an empty automatic feeder. The dog was transported to Acre View Pet Hospital and Laser Center, police said. On Sept. 21, the cats were transported to the pet hospital. On Sept. 22, the suspect's wife stated she had been in Korea since January, police said. Her husband, the suspect, had been taking care of the animals, and she was unaware that the utilities had been turned off at her apartment on Aug. 30. Her husband had been staying with friends since then, police said. Her husband told her he had been checking on the animals "at least once every 24 hours," she told police. When he went to the apartment on Sept. 15 and found that the locks had been changed he panicked. On Sept. 15, the suspect left the country to travel to Korea to visit her, police said. The suspect was scheduled to return on Oct. 11, and he was advised to contact police at that time. On Sept. 27, Eiko, the female corgi, was picked up from Acre View Pet Hospital and Laser Center and transported to the city's animal shelter. The dog was still on a strict diet and medications, police said.

Source: edmondsun.com - Nov 19, 2010 Update posted on Nov 19, 2010 - 8:42PM

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