Monday, March 1, 2010
Charges Pending In Animal Cruelty Case
Charges are pending against a Lawrenceburg man whose neighbors reported was extremely negligent in caring for his dog.
The matter was reported through the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department last week. Neighbors summoned deputies to the 689 Teressa Street home, reporting that a dog on the property was not being cared for.
The neighbor told deputies the owner had been away for between 4 and 5 days. During that time, the neighbor reported, the dog had had no food or water.
Deputies noted the dog was housed in a 5’ x 5’ covered pen, secured with a pad lock. The reporting deputy noted that the dog had no food or water and was barking, howling, and stumbling about in the pen.
The deputy and neighbors proceeded to pour water through the fence to the dog. The deputy indicates the dog drank around ½ gallon before stopping.
The dog, he reports, was weak and could only remain upright be leaning against something. When standing alone, he indicates the dog would lose his balance and fall over.
The deputy reports the dog was, “very malnourished,” and that his ribs and backbone could easily be felt. He noted, “The dog seemed very under weight for his size.”
Members of the Lawrence County Animal Welfare League were contacted and three representatives made their way to the scene. While deputies were discussing the matter with them, the deputy reports the owner arrived on the scene.
The owner told them that he had been caring for his dog properly and maintained that nothing was wrong with the animal.
When he opened the pen and the dog exited, deputies note the dog was unstable on his feet and kept looking for water sources. At that point, he reports the owner indicated someone “must have done something to his dog.”
After discussing the matter with deputies and league members the owner agreed to transport the dog to a veterinarian the following day (because they were unable to contact a vet at that time.)
The deputy notes that charges against the owner may be filed, “pending the report from the veterinarian.”
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