Two people are in jail facing charges of animal cruelty and abuse after nearly two dozen dogs were found malnourished at a home in Putnam County.
Deputies described the property in deplorable condition. Sheriff Bobby Eggleton said they’ve received several complaints from neighbors about drug and animal related issues. Eggleton said an animal control officer went to the court house and deputies served a search warrant on the 4200 block of Grandview Ridge in the Red House area. Law enforcement found 20 dogs, two dogs were already dead by the time deputies arrived, another died as it was being brought to the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association.
“These dogs are starving and, and, and it breaks my heart. I mean, I wouldn’t do that to me and an animal is like a child. That child–you are that child’s caretaker,” neighborRoki Whitsell said.
Whitsell said in this neighborhood, everyone usually looks out for each other. She said she never saw or heard of the suspects.
“I really take it to heart when they found animals and one don’t have the ability and the other don’t have the care. They don’t care about these animals. I don’t even know why somebody would want 20 dogs,” Putnam County Sheriff Bobby Eggleton said.
Sheriff Eggleton said deputies found a dead deer hanging in a barn and the dogs were feeding on the carcass. It’s not clear if this was their only source for food.
“We’re not going to turn a blind eye to mistreatment, malnourishment and we’re going to charge you because it is atrocious to think that somebody would allow dogs to get to the point of dying of starvation,”Sheriff Eggleton said.
The 19 dogs are being cared for at the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association. A non-profit spokesperson said all dogs were Parvovirus positive, very lethargic and not doing well. The shelter spokesperson said they’re in desperate need of medical supplies and dog food.
Sheriff Eggleton said investigators found a gun during their search. Edward Parsons was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Deputies said he had an unrelated warrant out of Kanawha County.
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