Dog debate continues on – The Tribune

Prosecutor, rescue team exchange terms about dismissal of animal cruelty

Social media blew up just after it was introduced previous week that charges ended up dropped in opposition to a male accused of several counts of animal cruelty.

The county prosecutor is stating there was not sufficient proof to prosecute Ruben “Ted” Sprouse, whilst the animal group that took treatment of the animals is stating that the prosecutor is incorrect.

The scenario started in June just after Pitiful Paws, a non-earnings non-public rescue group in Chesapeake, was alerted to a doggy in need of rescue.

Soon after investigating, they decided to approach the pet dog seller whilst in basic clothes and they did not mention they ended up section of a rescue team. They purchased two puppies from Sprouse and claimed that 1 dog was in first rate condition even though the other would have died if they had remaining it behind. The vendor also threw in an more mature beagle for free of charge.

The group documented everything with their phones and then gave the data to county officers.

The case was taken to the Ironton Municipal Court docket on June 29, with Sprouse billed with 67 counts of animal cruelty, a next-degree misdemeanor.

“The Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Workplace has continued to perform an investigation into the therapy of the animals situated at Mr. Sprouse’s residence,” wrote county prosecutor Brigham Anderson, incorporating the investigation included interaction and session with Lawrence County Animal Shelter employees qualified to acknowledge animal cruelty and that the Lawrence County animal officers would have testified that the pet dogs ended up not abused and need to not have been removed from the home. “The Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Workplace was subsequently offered with pictures of each and every and just about every dog at the time of their removing and mentioned pics do not aid a cost of Animal Cruelty for any animal eradicated.”

On Sept. 30, the case was dismissed and Pitiful Paws wrote they “were beyond appalled that the fees in this case were negligently dismissed and that bogus and misleading info are remaining made use of to aid that dismissal.”

The team wrote Lawrence County Humane Society (LCHS) was not present on scene, apart from for a “humane agent” who is also a detective for the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office and the LCHS gave the Pitiful Paws and other rescue teams the pet dogs after they have been surrendered.

Following the scenario was dropped, the humane culture named Pitiful Paws and asked for the dogs back.

“Since there was a valid surrender settlement, we informed LCHS that would not be important,” Pitiful Paws explained.

A different level of competition is a photograph of a skinny on the lookout rescued beagle sitting down in the entrance seat of a vehicle that was on social media and offered to The Ironton Tribune.

Anderson wrote that his business has pics and a movie of the doggy on the working day it was eliminated from Sprouse’s property and “on that working day, the dog’s ribs ended up not displaying and it appeared to be if not healthful. We have considering the fact that uncovered that selected remedies and solutions, these kinds of as deworming, can bring about a doggy to reduce fat and clearly show ribs. At the time, that the dog was taken from Mr. Sprouse’s house, it did not show up in the exact same affliction as it as seems on social media and the world wide web.”

Pitiful Paws disputed that, saying that photograph was taken on the identical working day it was rescued as it was on its way to a foster dwelling, as it has a inexperienced band with the dog’s situation selection on it and that the canine had not been provided dewormer or any medicine at that time. The group claimed that the dog’s glimpse was from “starvation/deficiency of diet and severe dehydration” and not caused by deworming.

“This fake declare is an insult to our rescue and the specialists who essentially examined these canine,” the team explained. “Internal parasites in common can bring about either extreme bloating or reduction of pounds in pets. Even so, deworming an animal is not heading to trigger it to reduce these types of an extraordinary total of unwanted fat or muscle mass to the issue that it is a strolling skeleton.”

Brigham wrote that after his place of work has all the evidence, it grew to become apparent they could not go ahead with prices.

“As Lawrence County Prosecutor, I have the responsibility to assessment evidence and only search for convictions when supported by sufficient evidence,” Brigham stated. “Although this choice will be questioned by members of the community, it is my belief based mostly on all evidence collected in this case that justice necessary a dismissal of all expenses. As county prosecutor, it is my duty to search for fact and justice in each and every and every single situation. I will proceed to work each and every day to make Lawrence County a safer and greater area to live and operate.”

Pitiful Paws wrote that the prosecutor’s place of work “took the easy way out on a case that essential carrying out difficult perform and predicted the community to acquire an absurd justification. This is not truth or justice. We are deeply saddened and particularly dissatisfied in the Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Business.”

They also wrote that the prosecutor’s business could refile the fees.