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Case ID: 17398
Classification: Neglect / Abandonment
Animal: dog (non pit-bull)
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Two starving dogs seized
Conway, SC (US)

Incident Date: Thursday, Feb 10, 2011
County: Horry

Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 3 files available

Alleged: Cleveland Fladger, Jr.

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

Two malnourished dogs seized by Conway Police Department's Animal Control office are currently being treated at the Horry County Animal Care Center. Kelly Bonome, with the care center, tells NewsChannel 15 that the more severely of the two dogs, Sasha, weighs about 26 pounds when a healthy dog Sasha's size should weigh about 50 pounds.

"This is the equivalent of a healthy man weighing 180 pounds coming in at about 90 pounds," pointed out Bonome.

Conway police charged Cleveland Fladger, Jr., 55, of Conway, with Animal Cruelty when an officer responded to Fladger's home Thursday after receiving an anonymous call that his dogs were being neglected.

The officer says two dogs at the home seemed to be in good health. But the other two were severely undernourished, Sasha the worst of all. Police said in a press release, "one dog appeared to be under weight and dehydrated, and another was extremely emaciated from apparent starvation."

Employees at the Animal Care Center say Sasha is being fed 3/4 of a cup of dog food every two hours and being closely monitored. They say if you feed the dog too much it would overload the animals system, shut down it's organs and she would eventually die as she would not know when to say when.

Officials do expect the dogs to make a full recovery, though they add that it will take anywhere from two to three months.

Bonome says seeing animals treated this way can be tough. Just last year, the city of Conway had 10 animal cruelty cases. But Bonome stresses to her staff to keep focused and just take one case at a time.

"It's something that I try to teach staff and public if you change someone's mind about animal cruelty and change one person's mind about how to be responsible pet owner or change their mind about animal cruelty or any of those things to be more responsible then over a year it's 365 people you've affected no telling how many animals," she said while stressing that "people should take responsibility for their pets and keep an eye for other people's pets that they feel are being treated inhumanely."

Bonome stressed that "people should take responsibility for their pets and keep an eye for other people's pets that they feel are being treated inhumanely."

Bonome said don't be afraid to call authorities if you suspect someone mistreating their pets.

Cleveland Fladger, Jr. is scheduled to appear in court February 23.


Case Updates

Two severely malnourished dogs seized from a Horry County home two weeks ago are recovering, and the man charged with abusing them rejected responsibility during a court hearing Wednesday afternoon.

Sasha, a yellow lab, and Butch, a pit bull mix, were brought to the county animal shelter together. Each dog was approximately 25 pounds underweight, according to the shelter. Both dogs are now gaining weight and should be available for adoption within several months.

Cleveland Fladger Jr., of Conway, requested a jury trial on a misdemeanor animal cruelty charge Wednesday and claimed animal control officers trespassed on his property. The judge quickly denounced that claim, citing the poor condition of the dogs when officers found them.

If convicted, Fladger is likely to pay a fine but not serve any jail time. Horry County animal control officer Misty Alessi says if Fladger is fined and does not pay, the animal care center would likely ask the court to sentence him to 30 days in jail. However; now that Fladger has requested a jury trial "some things may change."

"Sasha was at death's door," said Horry County Animal Care Operations Manager Kelly Bonome. She attended court Wednesday to testify against Fladger, but will now have to wait until a jury can hear Fladger's case.

"We understand it's his right to due process," says Bonome. "The only thing that will change now is the restitution amount he will have to pay to the center."

Right now, the center has paid more than $650 in care for Sasha and Butch.

"It's going to cost five dollars a day plus any other fees that come along, like the heart worm treatment we'll be starting for them in a few weeks."

Bonome says Sasha and Butch are both recovering well. Sasha has gained ten pounds since arriving to the shelter and now weighs 36 pounds.

"You wouldn't recognize Sasha from before. Sometimes I have to remind myself just how bad this case is by looking at the pictures from when I saw her for the first time," Bonome said.

Butch, deemed too aggressive for our cameras to see at first, is now more playful with care center workers. "He's a total 180 from last time. He's jumping up, wagging his tail. He's doing great."

Sasha and Butch will have to stay in the custody of the animal care center until Fladger's case is resolved.

Alessi says if two other dogs remaining in Fladger's custody now are in worse shape by the time a trial is set, he could face more charges.
Source: midlandsconnect.com - Feb 23, 2011
Update posted on Feb 24, 2011 - 1:16PM 

References

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