Aaron Walker, 46, left his dog to suffer with untreated tumor

GEORGIA -- The Columbus pet owner who police say didn't seek medical treatment for a dog with basketball-size mass pleaded guilty to aggravated cruelty to animals today in Recorder's Court.

Aaron Merrell Walker, 46, was ordered held in Muscogee County Jail under a $5,000 bond. The case was bound over to Superior Court.

Columbus Police Officer Dean Spata said he was patrolling the area with another official around noon Monday when they noticed a large, brown dog lying on a curb in front of Walker's home. The animal was covered in blood and flies, police said.

Spata said they investigated the incident further and noticed that the dog had a large tumor-like mass about the size of a basketball on the left side of its upper back. The lump was oozing blood and fluid, according to the report.

The dog lifted its head up every once and awhile, but it barely moved, Spata testified.

"Quite frankly, your honor, it was neither alive nor dead," he told Judge Michael Cielinski. "It smelled like it was dead, but it was still moving around."

Officials said they went to Walker's house in the 800 block of Fulton Avenue and him about the pet's condition. Walker, who claimed the dog, said he attempted to treat the mass with some sort of topical solution made for humans, Spata testified.

Animal Control took the dog into custody for treatment, but it eventually had to be euthanized, Spata said Wednesday morning.

The defendant didn't testify in court.

(Ledger Enquirer - Sept 16, 2015)