MAHOPAC- A Mahopac man is facing charges of animal cruelty and animal neglect for allegedly abandoning three dachshunds inside the darkened basement of a foreclosed home without food or water for an extended period of time.
The Putnam SPCA announced the arrest Friday of 62-year-old Michael Ward in connection with the incident.
SPCA Chief Ken Ross said when detectives responded to the location and met with a representative of a company acting on behalf of the company holding the deed to the property, they found the three dogs in a basement in total darkness, surrounded by large quantities of garbage, rubbish, feces, and debris.
Police observed no food or water available for the animals.
Ross said the conditions inside the residence were determined to be unsanitary and unsafe for the dogs.
The dogs were transported to Guardian Veterinary Specialists for medical evaluation and treatment.
Ross said: “Veterinarians determined the animals to be in a state of neglect and suffering from multiple medical conditions consistent with prolonged lack of proper care that included severe dental disease, severe ocular disease,
long overgrown toenails, scaly, dry skin; and foul odor consistent with lack of grooming and sanitation.
One of the dogs was found to be extremely emaciated, with a body condition score of 1.5 out of nine.
The dogs are receiving medical care, and Ross added are in the process of recovering under veterinary supervision and will become adoptable at a later date.
Ward, meanwhile, was charged with committing three counts of animal cruelty relating to the neglect of the dogs. He faces a stiff fine and/or incarceration.
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