A Massillon man is facing charges after his five dogs were discovered living in horrible conditions.
Massillon police officers’ body cameras captured footage of two dogs left alone on Alden Avenue. T
The footage shows the canines surrounded by rubbish and dirt, with no food, water, or anyone looking after them.
The previous day, Massillon authorities arrested their owner, Corey Swartzentruber, on unrelated trespassing charges. For 24 hours, no one cared for his five dogs.
Officers reported finding the canines confined in an area strewn with dirt, trash, cages, and metal junk.
According to the report, the dogs were “extremely bony,” had no visible food or water, and were ripping up trash bags and eating from them “like a feral animal, not a companion animal.”
Neighbors told officers that the situation was much worse.
Body camera footage shows an officer detailing what a neighbor saw firsthand.
“He takes his shirt off, ties it around his neck and starts dragging the dog,” the cop stated.
Officers issued a search warrant, seized all five canines, and transported them to the Stark County Humane Society.
Swartzentruber is now facing five counts of animal abuse.
On June 15, Swartzentruber entered a not guilty plea to five charges of companion animal prohibition.
He is out on bond and has a pre-trial hearing planned for June 30 in Massillon Municipal Court.
Leave a Reply