Missouri: St. Louis man Jason Carson, 42, starved beagles to death, police say

MISSOURI -- A St. Louis man has been charged with four misdemeanor counts of animal abuse for allegedly neglecting his four beagles by not feeding them.

At least three of the beagles died, charges say. Police say Jason C. Carson, 42, of the 4800 block of Maffitt Avenue, owned and kept three male and one female beagle in pens on a vacant lot next to his property.

Acting on an anonymous tip, animal control officers on Jan. 28 went to the property on Maffitt Avenue and found two pens holding the four beagles, charges say. One of the males was dead; another male was unresponsive, convulsing and could barely breathe; the two others were emaciated.

In addition to the beagle found dead in the pen, a second later died of starvation and a third died of a heartworm infection, charges say.

Carson was not in custody Thursday. Reached by telephone, he declined comment.

(STL Today - Feb 25, 2016)