A New Miami man who allegedly shot a Saint Bernard in the head in early June was apprehended on June 27, police said.
Allen P Hess, 46, was charged with cruelty to animals, a second-degree misdemeanor, for allegedly shooting his former Saint Bernard named �Sarge� in the head, officials said.
Renee Jeffries, chief dog warden for Butler County, said the investigation started June 3 when police received a call of a dog bleeding on Morris Avenue in New Miami.
�They paged the on-call dog warden... when she arrived she saw the dog bleeding,� said Jeffries, who handles animal cruelty cases on behalf of Animal Friends Humane Society in Trenton. �At first we thought he was hit by a car.�
The next morning veterinarians at the AFHS examined �Sarge,� and discovered he had a broken jaw, Jeffries said.
�We attempted to feed the dog with a syringe and keep him as comfortable as possible. He would barely eat,� said Jeffries.
Because the dog seemed to be in good condition, Jeffries said she thought an owner would show up and claim him, but no one did.
Two days later she received a call from the health department, indicating a woman at The Fort Hamilton Hospital who was pregnant had reportedly been bitten in the buttocks by a neighbor�s dog.
�I received more specifics from her and we found out the dog had been shot,� said Jeffries. �Then we started putting the pieces together.�
A call was made to the veterinarian at AFHS and Jeffries asked if �Sarge� could have been shot. The vet said it was quite possible and Jeffries said she ordered a X-ray.
�The vet said that there was a cracked part in the dog�s skull and it could have been a bullet... and it was,� said Jeffries.
The bullet apparently entered the dog through the left eye and came out the jaw area � near the neck, according to Jeffries. She also said the bullet did damage to the nasal area and broke the dog�s jaw.
Jeffries discovered the dog had reported bit the pregnant woman and Hess was told to come and get the animal from a residence on Cain Street in New Miami. Hess was the original owner of the dog, according to Jeffries.
�They said �come and get this dog,� but he said he couldn�t,� said Jeffries.
Hess was told that if he didn�t come and pick up the dog from the residence that the dog would be burned, according to Jeffries.
Jeffries said when Hess arrived at the residence, he confessed to shooting the dog.
�There�s other options,� she added. �Call the police. We�re on call 24 hours a day.�
�Sarge� is expected to recover and Jeffries said a little �tender loving care� would definitely help the Saint Bernard.
To adopt, volunteer, or donate to the AFHS call (513) 867-5727 or www.animalfriendshs.org. Neighborhood MapFor more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.
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