Oklahoma: Stillwater couple Anthony Snyder, 28, and April Snyder, 27, left dog to die in locked room, say police

OKLAHOMA -- A Stillwater couple is facing charges of animal cruelty after two dogs - one dead and another on the brink of death - were found in a locked bedroom in a trailer in May.

Anthony Brian Snyder, 28, and April Nicole Snyder, 26, appeared on the court docket Monday morning to have a preliminary hearing scheduled after both were charged with animal cruelty on May 25, a felony charge punishable by up to five years in prison, up to one year in county jail or a fine no more than $5,000.

An officer with Payne County Sheriff's Office wrote in a probable cause affidavit that on May 25 he made contact with Ed Suthers of Oklahoma State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, who said he had served a five-day eviction notice to the Snyders for the trailer he was renting to them on the 400 block of East 44th Street.

Suthers said that he went to clean and inspect the trailer that day and found one dead dog and one dog in "very bad condition" that he took to OSU Vet Med for urgent care.

The affidavit reads Dr. Carrie Cavett, one of the attending veterinarians for the surviving dog, told the officer the dog was suffering from "malnutrition, parasitism, covered in fleas and in a great deal of pain" and was unsure whether the dog would live.

Dr. Cavett went on to tell the officer that the dog's condition was "caused completely from lack of food, water and care from the owner."

Another deputy with PCSO went to the trailer and met with Suthers, who recounted his discovery at the residence, according to the affidavit.

Suthers said that he "could smell something bad" as he entered the trailer and found one dead dog in a laundry basket and the other dog "almost dead" in a locked bedroom in the back of the trailer. 

Suthers said that he did not know how long the dogs had been unattended, and upon calling April about his discovery, April told him "One's still alive" and Suthers ended the conversation.

The affidavit also reads that Anthony and April arrived while the deputy was on scene to pack up their belongings and said the dogs were theirs and would lock the dogs in the back bedroom whenever they left.

Anthony claimed they left food and water out for them in the kitchen, but said they had been living somewhere else and had not been there to check on the dogs in 3-4 days.

Anthony complained that he was "between jobs and taking care of the two dogs plus the kids was more expensive than he thought ... it was hard feeding the dogs," according to the affidavit.

(STW News Press - Aug 1, 2016)