MISSOURI -- A Livingston County woman was charged Thursday with animal abuse after a dog left in her care suffered from an “unapproved method of castration.”
Debra Jean Heussner-Ivy, 36, of Hale, Mo., was issued a criminal summons nearly one month after deputies began investigating a dog with swollen testicles. Livingston County Sheriff’s Deputy Adam Clark said authorities responded to Ms. Heussner-Ivy’s home at the 19000 block of Missouri Route H, on the report of animal abuse.
Although Ms. Heussner-Ivy was not home, deputies found the black-and-white dog in question.
“The dog appeared to have severely swollen testicles and was tucking his tail to protect them,” court documents state.
Ms. Heussner-Ivy later made contact with authorities at the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department and explained that the dog did not belong to her and that someone had dropped the animal off at her residence in March. She admitted to noticing “some abrasions and attempted to treat them for several months,” but the dog’s condition worsened.
The Chillicothe Animal Hospital reported to deputies that the dog’s “swelling was caused by a rubber band(s) wrapped around the base of the scrotum,” the probable cause statement detailed. “(The doctor) claims this was an attempted, unapproved method of castration.”
The veterinarian also stated that the dog suffered from a “deep skin infection.”
Livingston County Prosecuting Attorney Adam Warren charged Ms. Heussner-Ivy with a Class A misdemeanor of animal abuse. She was issued a summons and is scheduled to appear for an arraignment Wednesday.
(St. Joseph News-Press - Aug 23 2013)
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