Two New Bloomington residents arrested in animal cruelty case, dogs up for adoption

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Turtle and gecko were among animals seized

• Two Bloomington residents face 64 counts of animal abuse after a deceased dog was found and a search warrant revealed more animals living in unacceptable conditions.
• Nine dogs, a turtle and a leopard gecko were seized from the property on Marion Agosto Road.
• The seized dogs were made available for adoption, with most already placed in homes.

Two New Bloomington residents were charged with 64 counts of animal abuse after a three-week long investigation.

The investigation began after Marion County Dog Warden Scott Mills responded to a report of a deceased dog. He recovered the body of the dog and sent it in for autopsy, which led to an investigation involving Mills, Marion County Sheriff’s Office and Marion Area Humane Society.

On March 25, authorities executed a search warrant at a residence in the 6000 Block of Marion Agosto Road. Nine dogs of varying breeds, a turtle and a leopard gecko, were seized, accoding to a press release from Sheriff Matt Bayles.

“The conditions that these poor animals were living in was completely unacceptable,” Bayles said in the release.

Two people each were charged with 64 counts of prohibitions concerning companion animals, according to the release.

The charges were made up of four fifth-degree felonies, 20 first-degree misdemeanors and 40 second-degree misdemeanors.

“We will always work tirelessly to protect those who cannot protect themselves and bring those to justice that choose to treat other living creatures with such incredible disregard for their welfare,” Bayles said in the release.

Dogs up for adoption at Marion County dog pound

Dogs seized were up for adoption at the Marion County Dog Pound. Two are in a home and one is being fostered.

The last dog, Gus, is available at the shelter. He is an American bulldog and Australian Shepard mix and will turn 5 years old in October. He was raised around other dogs and has been around children in the past.

Anyone interested in meeting, fostering or adopting Gus can contact the Dog Pound at 740-386-6150.

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