Michael Shaw of Faxon was charged Thursday with animal cruelty.
After receiving a complaint of starving dogs on Shaw's property, Comanche County deputies visited the property. On arrival, they were greeted by a starving dog so they immediately left and returned with a search warrant.
There, he says there were around 40 Greyhounds, severely malnourished and covered in fleas and ticks, with dirty water and little shelter.
"They can't speak so we have to make sure they're alright," said Comanche County Sheriff Ken Stradley. “When you got 40 dogs, and you've taken on that burden of taking care of them. If you consider it a burden you don't need to be in that kind of business.”
He says 3 of 5 puppies investigators originally found died before they could execute the search warrant, and two more dogs died on the way to Bixby Oklahoma, near Tulsa.
One of the dogs found dead was reportedly found in a mummified state.
According to court documents, Shaw told deputies he knew his dogs were in sickly condition and should have been taken to the vet for medical care.
Michael Shaw remains in the Comanche County Detention Center.
Sheriff Stradley says while Shaw did some breeding, he mostly used the dogs to hunt and to [attack and kill] coyotes.
The Humane Society of Tulsa is treating the dogs, Stradley says because there were too many for the shelter in Lawton. They have put up the healthier dogs for adoption. The dogs are at the Bixby emergency shelter located at 13290 South 80th East Avenue. The adoption fee is $120 which includes microchipping.
The emergency shelter will also be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The Humane Society of Tulsa is asking for donations to keep the temporary facility open on a permanent basis.
(Texas Homepage - Aug 20, 2016)
