Dog Pound Conditions Under Scrutiny

www.wbns10tv.com - August 2004

Some unsettling new pictures show conditions inside the Pike County Dog Pound. And serious allegations are being leveled against the Pike County dog warden.

Claims of animals laying in feces , urine-soaked floors and dogs eating out of rusty soup cans are backed up in part by a tale of the video tape.

The SPCA says the video and still photos featured on 10tv.com are among some of the documented abuse and neglect at the Pike County Dog Pound. Teresa Landon explains what the images reflect.

" The floor is soaked with urine , and there's quite a few piles of feces , " Landon pointed out. "This old dog was left to lay in the pound for a week, howling and crying, unable to get up."

"The pup in the forefront is actually dead."

The dog warden says things aren't so bad.

"The dog pound gets cleaned every day with bleach. The dogs all get fed and watered every day. The dog pound is in very good shape , " warden Randy Mustard countered.

So, would he show the facility to 10TV?

"Not right now. I've got some important calls , " he said Tuesday afternoon.

And when 10TV tried to visit the pound without Mustard , the front gate was found locked. W hile the front door to the building was open, it did not remain that way very long.

The Pike County prosecutor has asked the state to investigate the SPCA claims.

"It just breaks your heart to see animals treated that way. I've had animals all my life. I grew up on a farm. But we didn't raise our pigs the way some of these dogs are treated , " prosecutor Rob Junk said.

"This shows the remains of animals that have been gassed in the gas box out there , " Landon pointed out in other images. "This dog is in here with two bowls. One had feces in it. The other one has urine."

"This is a pup that was severely infected with mange."

"We are alleging animals are being abused and neglected."

The dog warden still had the support of the Pike County Commissioners as of Tuesday night.

The Pike County sheriff's office referred the investigation to the Ohio BCI because the case involves a public employee.