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One dog found dead, another without water

September 06, 2007|MICHAEL BROIHIER

A call from a concerned neighbor Tuesday alerted The Interior Journal to a case of suspected animal abuse.

The caller suggested that the house at 216 Logan Trail in Stanford had been abandoned

and that at least one animal had been chained outside and left to die of starvation or dehydration. The caller suggested that the dog was last seen on its feet Sunday but hadn't been fed or watered this month and was dead hanging from a back porch.

Upon investigation, the allegation proved to be accurate when an IJ reporter discovered

one dog dead with its chain entangled in some shrubs and another, nearly blind, chained to a dog house; neither appeared to have access to food or water.

Lincoln County Animal Control Officer Deputy Lee Hodge was contacted and returned to the Logan Trail home of Richard and Florence Naylor with an IJ reporter.

After ensuring the property was unoccupied, Hodge examined the dead animal and its conditions. The smell of rotting flesh was thick in the air, not only from the initial animal, but apparently from another dead animal yet undiscovered.

After checking on the condition of the live dog, Hodge gathered more information on the Naylors and tried to determine when they last visited the property.

Hodge was clearly angered by what he'd seen and decided to contact County Attorney

Daryl Day to seek a warrant to enter the premises to ensure no other animals were being neglected at the property.

Later that day, Hodge removed both the live and dead dog with the aid of Dr. Stacey Hutchison, who is one of several veterinarians who support Hodge pro bono.

Hodge sought arrest warrants for the Naylors for suspected animal abuse.

An attempt to contact the Naylors was unsuccessful.

Hodge was named animal control officer in early August by magistrates after Lincoln County Judge Executive Buckwheat Gilbert told them he receives many calls from

citizens reporting alleged instances of animal abuse.

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