A Frankfort man has pleaded guilty to a Cruelty to Animal charge, during a pre-trial hearing in Chillicothe Municipal Court last Friday.
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58-year-old John P. Balzer pleaded guilty and was sentenced with a $300 fine, one year probation and was ordered to complete a livestock care program through the Farm Bureau or a similar program approved by the probation department.
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The sentence was handed down after Balzer was originally charged with three counts of Cruelty to Animals, each a second degree misdemeanor.
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Ross County Humane Agents responded to a call located in Southwest Ross County in late January, concerning dead yearling calves. When the agents arrived to investigate, they observed multiple dead calves and found three still alive laying in deep mud.
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Another live calf was found inside of a hay feeder hanging through the bars. The uninjured calf was quickly freed by a humane agent. The three calves that were found alive, died soon after being pulled from the mud.
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According to humane agents, when the owner was asked if he noticed the cows down in the mud, he stated that he did on the previous day. He also told agents that he figured they didn't have much longer to live, and would probably be dead by the next day.
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“It is inhumane when an animal is suffering and a person fails to remedy the situation.” said Nick Marando, humane agent
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The Ross County Humane Society contracts with the Fayette Regional Humane Society to provide humane agent services to the Ross County area.
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**NOTE** The John Balzer named in this report is not the same person who serves as the Adena Local School Superintendent.