A Pittsburgh Housing Authority detective has been cited for cruelty to animals after investigators found his German shepherd, a semi-retired police dog, living in unsanitary conditions outside his home.
Darryl Adams, 45, of Sheraden, was also cited for three violations of city ordinances pertaining to his dog, Rico. All the citations are summary offenses.
Pittsburgh police Officer Christine Luffey, who has investigated numerous animal abuse cases, said she was tipped off that Adams was mistreating his dog.
She and humane agent Katie Waters from the Animal Friends shelter in the Strip District paid a visit to Adams' Sherwood Avenue home on June 7.
They said they found Rico tethered at the side of Adams' house without access to food or water and in an area covered in animal waste, Luffey said.
The dog had maggots, a skin condition, fly bites and an ingrown nail.
"This dog was in extremely poor condition," Waters said. "The dog was severely neglected."
Waters said the pair guessed that the dog was between 14 and 16 years old based on his condition and were shocked to discover he was only about 5 years old.
"He said that the dog's always been like that," Waters said.
Housing Authority police Chief Greg Patterson confirmed that Rico was Adams' partner. He said he plans to launch an internal investigation. Adams has been on the force for 14 years, and his work status remains unchanged while the investigation proceeds.
Patterson said he understood that Rico was suffering from arthritis and had not worked full time since December, doing building searches and helping to serve warrants.
"I knew the dog had some type of injury to the leg and I was in the process of budgeting money to possibly appropriate and purchase a new animal in the future," Patterson said.
Patterson said he was awaiting a report from a veterinarian stating that Rico could not perform his police duties.
"We just hadn't gotten to that stage yet," Patterson said.
Patterson did not recall approving payments on any veterinarian bills for Rico recently. He said he had no idea the dog was in such poor condition and had seen him only through the tinted windows of the police K-9 vehicle.
The department has one other police dog.
Patterson refused to release the department's rules and regulations governing care of police dogs, but said, "Obviously, we have to enhance our policy."
Rico is currently under the care of Animal Friends, where he will likely need three more months before returning to full health, Waters said. The shelter intends to put him up for adoption.
Waters said Adams made a verbal agreement to relinquish Rico to the shelter, and she is awaiting more formal paperwork.
Luffey took particular umbrage at having to remove a police dog from the home of a police officer.
"The care Rico received from Darryl Adams is disgraceful. Rico was severely neglected," Luffey said. "How could someone treat a retired police dog in this manner? Police dogs are police officers who serve and protect." Case Updates| A continuation hearing for the Pittsburgh Housing Authority Officer cited for cruelty to his retired K-9 partner took place on Monday, October 25, 2004 in Pittsburgh City Court. Darryl Adams of Sheraden was found guilty of cruelty to animals and fined $500. He was also fined $100 for lack of rabies vaccination and $100 for harboring a nuisance (feces odor). No restitution was ordered. | | Update posted on Dec 13, 2004 - 6:24PM |
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