Two Chillicothe residents have been charged with animal cruelty for the alleged abuse of puppy.
According to a release for the Ross County Humane Society on Thursday, January 16th, the Ross County Dog Warden and the Ross County Humane Society said they were contacted the day prior by Town and County Animal Clinic regarding a near 13-week-old male puppy who was the victim of severe trauma and suspected abuse.
The Ross County Humane Society assumed immediate care of the pup, transporting it to Northfork Animal Clinic for treatment. The puppy was stabilized by a shelter veterinarian, it was decided the pup required advanced emergency medical care and the dog was subsequently transported to MedVet Hospital in Worthington.
Sadly, the puppy had suffered fluid in the lungs as a result of a traumatic brain injury and passed away as a result.
After notifying local law enforcement, Chillicothe Police then charged Joshua Keets, of Chillicothe, with a single charge of animal cruelty with additional charge(s) pending.
According the police report, it is alleged that on the morning of January 15th, Mr. Keets threw the puppy out of a window of a residence for barking. Afterward, Mr. Keets was then seen slamming the puppy on the ground, crating the puppy, and then picking up the crate with the puppy inside and throwing it against a wooden fence.
More puppies were also located at the residence and were seized by a Deputy with the Ross County Dog Warden Office.
A female also living at the residence, Belinda Hufferd, was also charged with animal cruelty for failing to seek medical treatment for the pup when the injuries occurred.
Ross County Humane Society Executive Director Jenn Thomas provided the following statement in Thursday's press release:
“I would like to thank Town and Country Animal Clinic, the Chillicothe Police Department, the Ross County Dog Warden office, Northfork Animal Clinic, and MedVet for their efforts and attempts to save this puppy and for working together to file charges as necessary. We hope justice will be served in due course. I would also like to thank the public for the donations received for his emergency care after we posted him on Facebook. We could not provide adequate emergency care for dogs in these situations without the support of our community.”
The Ross County Humane Society said it will update the public as necessary if further charges are issued in the case.