Tips help charge 4 with cruelty to animals

Four cruelty to animals cases involving 16 animals highlight the important work of animal control officers and the importance of tips from the community.

Jesse Moore, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office animal control officer, became involved in all four instances because residents showed concern for animals they thought were being mistreated. As a result the animals have been removed from the bad situations, and four suspects face between one and 12 misdemeanor charges.

According to the sheriff’s office, the department has sent five cases to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office this year. That’s an increase from three cases each of the past two years. Moore thinks there is an uptick in residents reporting animal neglect.

Moore has observed a trend in rehoming animals that have not been spayed or neutered, leading to overpopulation. Animals then end up living with residents unprepared for the responsibilities of pet ownership. Neglect can result from the new pet owners lacking the resources or knowledge to provide proper care.

One case involving 12 cats and kittens resulted from a report about a kitten that died.

Tarah Lowery, 39, of Cambridge City is charged with 12 misdemeanor cruelty charges. She has an initial hearing scheduled Aug. 20 in Superior Court 3.

Residents who obtained a kitten from Lowery reported that they had taken the kitten to a veterinarian because of how sick it was, according to an affidavit of probable cause. The kitten, which had been diagnosed with conjunctivitis, an upper respiratory infection, fleas and intestinal parasites, died within a few days.

Moore found 11 cats and kittens that Lowery had put in a Milton barn. Each had some or all of the conditions found in the kitten that died, the affidavit said.

Lowery had taken the kittens to the barn because she had about 25 at her house. They had not received veterinary care or been neutered because she procrastinated, according to the affidavit. At the time of the investigation, she said she had fewer than 10 in her house and they had been neutered.

Another report of two dogs being tied in the woods without shelter, food or water led to charges against two Centerville residents.

Charles Orr, 19, faces two cruelty counts for tying the dogs in the woods. Suga and Spaz were found with their hips, spines and ribs easily visible, according to an affidavit. Moore was told that Orr left the dogs when he moved from the College Corner Road residence.

Orr’s initial hearing is Aug. 21 in Superior 3.

When Moore responded to the residence for that complaint, she saw another dog, Kyson, that was skinny with protruding ribs and hip bones and muscle loss, according to an affidavit.

Phoebe Orr, 21, is charged with cruelty because Kyson allegedly did not have adequate food or shelter. She also has an Aug. 21 initial hearing in Superior 3.

Moore became involved in the fourth situation after Centerville Police were called to a Morton Avenue apartment complex because a dog had been found living in poor conditions. The dog, named Groot, also had ribs, hips and vertebrae visible, with squishy muscles and a swollen abdomen indicative of intestinal parasites. Groot also had dehydration and hookworms.

Sierra Mitchell, 26, faces one cruelty charge, and she has an Aug. 20 initial hearing in Superior 3.

According to an affidavit, Mitchell was in Michigan and hadn’t been to her apartment in at least a week. She said a neighbor was supposed to feed Groot.