Tennessee: Keith Gritzmaker, 29, and his wife, Jessica Gritzmaker, 25, accused of leaving his chained dog starve to death

TENNESSEE -- A Mt. Pleasant man was jailed in Maury County on a charge of aggravated animal cruelty for allowing a dog to starve to death at his home in October and failing to provide water and medical aid for the animal.

Keith D. Gritzmaker

Keith D. Gritzmaker, 29, of 8836 W. Sheepneck Road, was arrested Wednesday and remained in the Maury County Jail Thursday on $4,029 bond.

His arrest follows that of his wife, Jessica Gritzmaker, 25, Hohenwald, on the same charge after Maury County sheriff’s deputies responded to a call Oct. 18 and found the dog’s remains chained to a doghouse in the backyard of the Mt. Pleasant residence.

Deputies learned of the incident after a neighbor phoned Animal Control with a follow-up request to have the dog’s remains removed, according to a sheriff’s report.

When they went to the residence, they found that it appeared to be vacant and reported that no food or water was anywhere near the dog’s body and that it appeared to have been extremely malnourished.

The neighbor told deputies the Gritzmakers had two other dogs that ran loose and had been coming to his property for food and water. He asked for them to be removed, the report said.

Aggravated cruelty to animals is a Class E felony punishable by imprisonment of no less than one year and no more than six years and a maximum fine of $3,000.

(The Daily Herald - Dec 13, 2012)