Virginia: Nancy Jinkins, 52, was hoarding animals inside her condemned home while telling everyone she was running a non-profit rescue called Ardellen Animal Abode. She's been charged with 10 counts of animal cruelty.

VIRGINIA -- A New Market woman has been formally charged with 10 counts of animal cruelty after authorities accused her of keeping more than 60 pets in poor conditions.

Nancy Ellen Jinkins, 52, is also the director of Ardellen Animal Abode, a registered nonprofit animal rescue that lists its main address as Jinkins’ New Market home at 9531 South Congress Street. Her nonprofit was registered by the IRS in November 2016, and has no reported finances yet.

 

 

The criminal complaint alleges that on June 29 Jinkins’ home had to be condemned by the Shenandoah County fire marshal because the residence had “extremely high” levels of ammonia – a statement from the Shenandoah County Sheriff’s Office reported ammonia levels at 100 parts per million.

Jinkins’ home is listed as being 1,305 square feet in size. There were 31 dogs and 32 cats found inside the home, and 12 of those dogs and one cat had to be euthanized at the scene. The remaining animals were taken to the Humane Society of Shenandoah County and the Shenandoah County Animal Shelter for care.

“Most of these animals were living in small crates inside the residence covered in urine and feces,” the criminal complaint states.

One of the rescued kittens

Jinkins was released on a summons, and the conditions of her release require her to avoid using her nonprofit in any way except to dissolve it if she chooses to. She is also forbidden from owning, taking custody of, or possessing a pet in any way.

The 10 counts of animal cruelty stem from 10 animals found inside Jinkins’ home: Cheyanne, Cassie, Callie, Roscoe, BJ, and Chili, all pit bull mix dogs; Thunder, a boxer mix; Roscoe, a pointer mix; and Devin and Kitty, both orange cats.

A preliminary hearing in this case is set for July 21 in Shenandoah County General District Court. Each animal cruelty charge Jinkins is facing carries a maximum sentence of 12 months in jail.

*  *  *  *  *  *

Officials condemned the home. When it was listed for sale in 2014, even though it was being sold in "As Is" condition, it was very cute looking. It's tiny, as houses in the 1930s were, but looks like it just needed some updates. I imagine now the 'original hardwood floors' that have survived 80+ years will now need to be torn out as they're saturated with urine. Looking at the photos when it was empty and for sale, I imagine what it must look like after 60+ suffering dogs and cats were stuffed inside by Nancy Jinkins who was touting her animal rescue and going to board meetings at the humane society.

From the realty ad: Custom built brick home built in 1936 situation within town limits, 8x12 covered porch, level back yard, original hardwood floors, replacement windows throughout, fireplace. Home being sold in 'As Is' condition. New roof in October 2012. Three bedrooms, 1.5 bath, large, level .29 acre lot. MLS# SH7835927. Sold 07-11-2014 for $85,000

 · Shenandoah County Sheriff's Office Facebook post June 30, 2017 · 

On 6/29/2017 at approximately 1:00 pm the SCSO responded to the 9500 block of South Congress Street, New Market, VA for a welfare check on animals. The call was reported by a concerned citizen. Deputies arrived and identified a 52 year old female at the residence.

During the course of the investigation Deputies from the SCSO Animal Control division found 31 dogs and 32 cats inside of the residence.

Several of the animals were found to be in very poor health and the conditions that they were in were found to be inadequate. Twelve dogs and one cat had to be euthanized at the scene by a Veterinarian. 

The Shenandoah County Fire Marshal's office assisted with the incident and determined that the ammonia level reading inside the residence was over 100 parts per million, which lead to the Fire Marshal condemning the residence.

Deputies had to use protective clothing and breathing apparatus to safely enter the residence to remove the animals. The remaining animals were transported to the Shenandoah County Animal Shelter and Humane Society of Shenandoah County. Deputies were on the scene for approximately 11 hours processing the area and safely capturing the animals so they could be transported to safe locations for care.

The owner of the animals is cooperating with the ongoing investigation.

The SCSO was also assisted by the New Market Police Department.

*  *  *  *  *  *

Humane Society Board of Directors
President:  Melisa Miller-Piselli
Vice President:  Vacant
Treasurer:  Tammy Willingham
Secretary:  Millie Murphy

Board Members:
Jane Blair
Kim Ashby
Gerry Langland
Nancy Jinkins

To contact the Humane Society Board of Directors, call 540-984-7101 or email info@hsscva.org

The Board would like to thank all of the HSSC volunteers who give willingly of their time and talents to help the families and animals of Shenandoah County!

(Northern Virginia Daily - July 6, 2017)

Animal shelter employee, Angela Bartlett, 32, arrested for animal cruelty

NEW YORK -- An employee of a Madison County shelter was arrested on Saturday for animal cruelty charges, according to the sheriff's office.

Police say Angela Bartlett, 32, from the Town of Sullivan failed to provide adequate shelter and food to her young male German Shepherd mix.

Bartlett, an employee at Wanderer's Rest Humane Association, was arrested and charged with failure to provide adequate food or water to a dog, a misdemeanor, and failed to provide appropriate shelter for the animal which was left outdoors which is just a violation.

The sheriff's office say they received a complaint from a neighbor and the department then attempted to do education efforts with Bartlett and an animal control officer in early November.

 

Employee group photo: I don't know if this is the same Angela or not.
If you can confirm it is OR isn't, post below.

The department followed up on December 28 and found the dog was still underweight and had the animal seized.

Bartlett is due back in court on February 2.

She could face a significant fine and/or jail time if convicted.

(WSYR-TV - Jan 2, 2016)

Ohio: Mary Wawyrtko, Joseph Scott Gray, and Jessica Oslander get probation after abusing cats

OHIO -- State of Ohio v. Mary Wawyrtko, Joseph Scott Gray, and Jessica Oslander, cases prosecuted for the Cleveland APL.

Defendants were sentenced yesterday.

 

They will have to complete 5 years of active probation. During probation, the Defendants are prohibited from owning more than 2 spayed or neutered animals. They may continue to volunteer as cat caretakers at The Cat Crossing if they act under the oversight of a veterinarian and shelter management plan, both approved by the APL. All animals must be kept in a humane, sanitary and lawful manner.

 

Worms shown on the bedding

The Defendants will be subject to random, unannounced inspections of any facility where they care for cats by the Cleveland APL, Cleveland Animal Control, Public Health and Building Code officials, and other law enforcement to ensure compliance. 

Defendants must obtain mental health assessments and abide by recommended treatment, if any.
Defendants must also pay $5,800.00 in restitution to the Cleveland APL and court costs.

If the Defendants fail to comply with the terms of probation, they face up to 990 days in jail each.

Hercules, one of the 147 cats confiscated from The Cat Crossing, had to
be euthanized. He had FeLV, FIV, stomatitis, severe gingivitis, respiratory
infection and ear mites after being at the shelter for five months.

  

(Holland & Muirden, Attorneys at Law - December 2, 2015)

Earlier:

• Ohio: Criminal charges filed against 3 more Cat Crossing shelter volunteers

Asked about a pit bull mix which attacked one of APL's volunteers, Jim Stone, director of the Sangamon County Department of Public Health that runs the animal control center, blathers on about his admiration for APL

ILLINOIS -- Stewart, depending on who’s talking, is either a mutt in need of a home or a dangerous dog that needs to be euthanized.

One thing is clear. Stewart is now at the center of a lawsuit filed by an Animal Protective League volunteer who says that the pit bull mix bit him for no reason.

“I want no money,” says John Sanders, who suffered bites on his right arm last May after taking Stewart for a walk. “I’m not vindictive toward Stewart. I’m doing what I can do to try and keep the dog from attacking me or anybody else.”

According to a bite report taken by Sangamon County animal control after Sanders’ physician alerted the county, Sanders suffered “moderate, multiple punctures” that ranked three on a scale of one to six, with one being a minor scratch and six being fatal wounds. Sanders, who is acting as his own lawyer, wants a judge to order Stewart put to sleep.

The APL, on the other hand, wants someone to adopt Stewart, who is advertised on the agency’s website as a 49-pound pit bull mix .



From APL's page: Hi, my name is Stewart! I am a 6-month-old, 49-pound pit mix puppy. I am a friendly, happy-go-lucky guy. I would benefit from some training because I have some puppy habits like being mouthy when I play. But I am eager to please so you can teach me not to do that. I am working on my housebreaking and making good progress. Come meet me any day from noon to 5 p.m. at the APL!

“I am a friendly, happy-go-lucky guy,” reads the text of the ad that appears beneath a picture of the white-and-tan dog. “I would benefit from some training because I have some puppy habits like being mouthy when I play. But I am eager to please so you can teach me not to do that.”

Sanders, however, says that Stewart is more than mouthy. He says that he had walked Stewart two or three weeks before he was bitten and had concerns.

“He jumped at me, so I didn’t take him for (a walk) for a long time,” recalls Sanders, who had been an APL volunteer for a year. “I thought, ‘I’m going to try you again, boy.’”

Sanders said that Stewart had a special chain collar designed to tighten around the dog’s neck to help control the animal during walks. After walking Stewart, Sanders says that he took the dog to a secure pen, removed the collar and began tossing a ball for Stewart to retrieve.

After finishing with the game, Sanders said that he reached for Stewart’s collar to put it back on the dog before leaving the pen.

“I went to grab it…and he got me and just attacked the hell out of me,” Sanders says.

A dog that bites without provocation should be euthanized, Sanders says.

“I don’t know how you would train a dog not to bite someone again,” Sanders says.

APL officials did not respond to a request for comment.

Sanders went home before filling out a report. In an email to Sanders sent the day that he was bitten, Anne Sobala, APL volunteer coordinator, said that the agency needed the paperwork as a matter of protocol.

“Stewart is not in trouble, it is just APL policy,” Sobala wrote. “(U)ntil you fill out and sign the incident report, we won’t be able to allow you to volunteer at APL. You are a valued and longtime APL volunteer, but there are no exceptions to this rule.”

Sanders responded via email, saying that he was willing to fill out a report for APL and asking that the form be mailed to him. He also wrote that Stewart is dangerous and should be put to sleep.

According to county records, Stewart was put into quarantine at APL two days after Sanders was bitten. Dogs that bite are supposed to be quarantined until it can be determined that they don’t have rabies. Sanders wonders why the dog wasn’t quarantined at the county’s animal control shelter instead of APL facilities.

“That dog should have been taken to the county and detained, don’t you think?” Sanders says.

Jim Stone, director of the Sangamon County Department of Public Health that runs the animal control center, said that he’s not familiar with the Sanders case, but the county doesn’t always take custody of a dog that has bitten.

The county, depending on circumstances, will allow a dog that has bitten to be quarantined at an animal shelter or an owner’s home if authorities believe the owner is a responsible person and especially if the dog has been vaccinated against rabies and has no previous history of biting or running loose, he said.

Stone said dog bite cases involve due process. And he said the county likely would not require the APL to relinquish a dog to the county.

“We don’t just take somebody’s complaint and say ‘This dog’s dangerous’ and say it’s going to be euthanized,” Stone said. “They (APL) know the circumstances, they’re an established, well-known, reputable facility. They understand this process, they understand the nature of dogs.”

Sanders says that he doesn’t like his chances in court, but will nonetheless take the case as far as he can.

“It’s hard to go up against the APL – you know the reputation they have, it’s such a great place and all this,” Sanders said. “And you know what? I never had a problem out there until the day that dog bit me.”

(Illinois Times - July 23, 2015)

Ohio: Criminal charges filed against 3 more Cat Crossing shelter volunteers- Jessica Oslander, Steven Smith and Marian Lowes. Also charged: Mary Wawrytko, 64, and Joseph Scott Gray, 50

OHIO -- Three more of the volunteers who ran The Cat Crossing shelter that was raided Jan. 28 by the Cleveland Animal Protective League face charges.

Marian Lowes, 56, of Rocky River, is charged with obstructing justice, obstructing official business, two counts of neglecting 147 cats and three counts of keeping animals in filthy conditions.

 

Steven Smith, 58, of Rocky River, is charged with two counts of neglecting the same cats and three counts related to filthy conditions.

And Jessica Oslander, 31, of Cleveland, faces 26 counts of neglect related to filthy conditions and lack of veterinary care. She has a felony criminal history in Florida that includes domestic violence and fraud.

Many of the charges are first-degree misdemeanors that carry maximum sentences of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Lowes was charged with obstructing because she "was present when the search warrant was served and an on-site impound of all cats was ordered," APL Chief Animal Control Officer Jed Mignano said. "Lowes removed a cat from the premises in order to conceal the cat, which is evidence in an investigation."

 

Hercules, one of the 147 cats confiscated from The Cat Crossing, had to 
be euthanized. He had FeLV, FIV, stomatitis, severe gingivitis, respiratory 
infection and ear mites after being at the shelter for five months.

The trio will be arraigned next month in Cleveland Municipal Court soon after the court appearances of  two other defendants, Mary Wawrytko, 64, and Joseph Scott Gray, 50. Those two were charged last week with a total of 52 counts of animal neglect and are due in court Thursday, April 2.

Gray and Wawrytko both live at the West 25th Street shelter where the 147 cats were confiscated.

 

Worms shown on the bedding

More than 86 percent of the cats were ill, and 21 had to be euthanized due to complications of feline leukemia or feline immunodeficiency virus and other infections, the APL's veterinarian said.

Wawrytko co-founded The Cat Crossing in 2012 and rented a former warehouse in the Ohio City neighborhood soon after she faced the same complaints about ill cats and unsanitary conditions at her previous home on Columbus Road in the nearby Flats.

Many of the confiscated Cat Crossing cats are now healthy enough for adoption.

The Cleveland APL still has 45 of them; 31 are available for $45 each at 1729 Willey Ave. The Friendship Animal Protective League, 8303 Murray Ridge Road, Elyria, took 27 of the cats off the APL's hands and still has 19 available for $10 each.

And Tails From the City took 17 of the cats into its shelter on Cleveland's West Side. Six of those still need homes. Fill out an adoption application at tailsfromthecitycleveland.org.

"Unfortunately, all of the cats were exposed to FIV and FeLV at Cat Crossing, so we will need to retest them, free of charge, in April," Harvey said. "We are looking for homes where the Cat Crossing cats will be the only cat or where they can be isolated from other cats until they can be retested. The cats adopted from Friendship in Elyria can be retested there."

(Cleveland.com - March 26, 2015)

Arizona: When is a pit bull not a pit bull? After it goes on the attack at a pit bull rescue

ARIZONA -- The girl is 5 years old. Her brother is 3. Their mother is 27. All three were the victims of a vicious, double attack by a pit bull that attacked the children as their waited for their mother in their van, parked at Bunnell’s Second Chance Rescue shelter late Wednesday afternoon.

The first time the dog jumped through an open window. The second time the dog jumped in through a door that had been left open, after the children’s mother had attempted to seek help.

When a Flagler County Sheriff’s deputy arrived at Florida Hospital Flagler’s emergency room at 6 p.m. Wednesday, the scene horrific. The 3-year-old boy had blood gushing from his face, which had started to swell and discolor from the bruising. His eye socket appeared to be damaged.

His sister was in another bed, blood soaking through bandages that the paramedics had applied. She was crying in pain. The children’s mother had blood leaking down her cheek and neck as she was attempting to calm her children, who appeared to be in shock. Large quantities of blood soaked the blankets which had been used to cover all three victims.

At least the victims were stable, an emergency room doctor told the deputy.

The attack revives a running debate about pit bulls, which are the frequent target of criticism and, in some communities, of outright bans–Miami-Dade County, for example, banned pit bull ownership in 1989, and Miami-Dade voters by a 63 percent margin renewed the ban in 2012.

APOLOGIST
But in an appearance on WNZF’s Free For All Friday this morning, Jeff Hoffman, the sheriff’s chief deputy, said pit bull attacks tend to get more attention than other dog attacks even though other breeds have their share of victims, too. It’s not the dog so much as how the dog is trained and raised, Hoffman said.

[Oh yes. Let's start pointing fingers at "other breeds". I'm waiting for the vicious Golden Retriever comment or the Poodles which are mauling children all over the place but don't get the same media attention. And yes, we've got someone blathering on about how only abused dogs attack without provocation. Yeah, right.]

Paramedics who’d responded to the attack and transported the three victims to the hospital said the pit bull had left lacerations and puncture wounds on one of the victims’ left temple, behind her left ear and on her arms. Another victim had puncture wounds to the front and rear of her right shoulder and laceration on the same side.

The boy was in the worst condition, with a right eye puncture, a tear in the upper and lower parts of his mouth, and a large puncture under his chin. He also had puncture marks and deep lacerations to his right upper eye. He was missing a tooth and had multiple lacerations to his face and upper body.

The children’s mother is a volunteer at the Second Chance Rescue shelter in Bunnell. She told police she’d left the two children in her vehicle while she was doing some work at the shelter.

According to the information the volunteer gave police, a black and white pit bull “had broken out of his cage.”

The pit bull jumped into the passenger side window, which was down, of the volunteer’s Toyota Sienna minivan. 

Once the pit bull got inside the vehicle, the children’s mother told police, “it went straight to her son who was sitting in the middle row of the van and latched on to his head, dragging him to the floor of the vehicle,” according to the sheriff’s incident report.

Second Chance Rescue disputes that the dog is a pit bull, calling it a mixed Labrador instead.

[Well, of course they're disputing it being a pit bull. Why would a pit bull rescue have a pit bull at their facility? Gosh, I don't know. But one thing's for sure is that they're trying to distance themselves from this dog and what it's done.]

Amy Carotenuto, director of the Flagler Humane Society, where the dog is being quarantined for 10 days before it is euthanized, said that absent a birth certificate –which the dog does not have– she CLAIMS it is impossible to say precisely what sort of dog it is.

 “I bet there’s not a pure-bred bone in him,” Carotenuto said. “Some people might say he is a pit bull,” she said, because of his 40-pound frame and appearance, but “whatever he is, he is a lot of different breeds.”

Carotenuto stressed: “The issue is the same no matter what breed he is. He is a 40-some pound dog that put some hurt on some kids.”

A caller to 911 asked the mother during the call for a description of the dog. She tells him that it’s “a pit.”

The police report continues, referring to the children’s mother: “She stated she attempted to get the dog to let go of her son who kept biting down on his face. She stated that she had to grab the dog’s mouth and pry it open, using her hands to free her son, at which time the dog turned on her, biting her in the face and neck.”

Amy Carotenuto, director of the Flagler Humane Society
says a reasonable person would not be able to say this is a pit bull

After gaining control of the dog, the children’s mother then dragged the dog back to its cage, securing it there to attempted to run and get help from other workers. But then she said she saw the dog break out of its cage again and run back toward the Toyota. The dog again jumped into the open passenger door window and started to attack the volunteer’s daughter, grabbing her by her shoulder and whipping her to the floor.

The children’s mother then dragged the dog out of the van again and put it into another holding area. She then got into her vehicle and drove to the owner’s property, where she and her children called 911.

Later that evening Scott Christopher of Flagler County Animal Control told police that he’d already picked up the dog for quarantine and was headed back to the Flagler County Humane Society.

Christopher would be conducting an investigation and would be in contact with all parties involved.

“I then went to the area where the incident had occurred,” the investigative deputy wrote in the incident report, “and inspected the vehicle where the incident had taken place. While looking at the vehicle I observed large scratches and muddy dog prints on the passenger side door and muddy dog prints on the passenger side seat along with dog prints leading to the back of the vehicle. I observed blood splatter on the seats and ceiling along with large pools of blood on the floor and pieces of clothing in the vehicle.”

Second Chance Rescue posted a summary of the incident on its Facebook page Thursday, describing it as “a juicy story that exploits people,” disputing the facts laid out by the sheriff’s report and attacking media for reporting those facts.

“The dog was friendly and vetted so we agreed to take it,” Second Chance Rescue wrote, describing the dog as a “lab boxer” rather than a pit bull.

“Last night, one of our volunteers and her children were there, and she was letting him out to potty like she has all week and he bit them. He did NOT break out of his cage like the news said.”

The statement goes on, remarkably, to ascribe blame at great length: “This is not to say that it is not a big deal,” the statement reads, “because we value our volunteers so much and will do whatever we can for them. The fact is though, that if these Humane Societies were not charging a drop off fee, we would not be known as the dumping ground for unwanted animals. People use to not want to drop their pets off there because they did not want them to die and now they dont because they can’t afford it. If so many backyard breeders did not get away with breeding and breeding and breeding, there would not be so many dogs born with their wires crossed liked this one.”

 

Carotenuto said the Humane Society typically asks for $150 as a surrender fee for a large dog, but that the fee is not set in stone. If an individual can’t pay it, the Human Society asks for a contribution of some kind, because of the expense of maintaining animals. In one case, an individual recently opted to volunteer for two hours in lieu of paying a fee. “We definitely work with people. We don't turn people away,” Carotenuto said/

The Second Rescue statement concludes by saying that dogs do not attack “for no reason,” that the attack was not its fault, and that media are intent on describing it as a pit bull attack. “Our heart breaks for the mother and child that was involved. However, she knows that when you are at a rescue, with dogs that have been abused and dumped, you can’t assume 100% safety at all times,” the statement concludes.

(Flagler Live - Mar 16, 2014)

Ohio: Peter Bower admits to bestiality; will get no jail time because Ohio is a backwards state with no law against sexually abusing animals

OHIO -- A man who admitted to having sex with RAPING his dog will not face jail time.

Evidence photos obtained by 10TV show Peter Bower with two of the dogs he used to own.

A file of evidence against Bower also contained a love letter he addressed to his dog named Maggie, 10TV’s Glenn McEntyre reported.

In the letter, Bower wrote repeatedly of his love for Maggie and admitted to having sex with RAPING her. "We made love," he wrote.

The file also contained photographs of Bower RAPING engaged in sexual intercourse with the dog.

In the absence of a law banning bestiality in Ohio, the strongest charge prosecutors could pursue against Bower was animal cruelty, McEntyre reported.

In order to prove animal cruelty, prosecutors had to prove that the animals were injured because of the sexual contact Bower had with them.

“The prosecutor moved to dismiss several charges that he felt he could not prove due to the fact that he could not show the actual harm to the animal,” Shelby Municipal Court Judge Jon Schaefer said.

Is a child being raped always going to show physical injury to their genitals? No. 

Schaefer said both sides agreed to a plea deal.

In exchange for a “no contest” plea to charge of injuring animals, Bower was sentenced to 80 days of community service, two-years of probation, ordered to attend sexual addiction classes, and prohibited from owning an animal during the 2 year probation period.

Investigators, the prosecutors and the judge all said that under current Ohio law, it was the best they could do.

“I think the resolution is appropriate because we have a very sick individual,” Schaefer said. “This way we’re gonna get that individual, hopefully, into counseling.”

They say for a tough sentence, Ohio will need to create a tougher law.

Schaefer said that if Bower fails to get counseling he could be ordered to jail for 180 days [which is nothing].

Bower declined to comment, McEntyre reported.

(10tv - Nov 28, 2011)

Earlier:

• Ohio: Peter Bower accused of having sex with dogs, horse sparks demand for harsher bestiality law
• Ohio: Peter Bower, charged with raping his own dog, was also working as a dog sitter and dog walker

Ohio: Peter Bower, charged with raping his own dog, was also working as a dog sitter and dog walker

OHIO -- The Richland County Dog Warden has charged a Shelby, Ohio man for having sexual relations with his 3-year-old shepherd mix.

According to officials, Peter Bower was charged with two counts of animal cruelty for having sexual relations with three dogs and possibly one horse.

"The tip was allegations about bestiality, sexual conduct with an animal," said Richland County Dog Warden Dave Jordan.

 

Investigators executed a search warrant at Bower's apartment where they seized the 3-year-old shepherd mix and his computer. On the computer, pictures and stories of his sexual relations with his animals.

They also found a bestiality book, "Dearest Pet," along with signs that read 'Pets Welcomed' and a plastic, blow-up sheep.

Police say Bower advertised dog walking and sitting services around town and at the Mansfield dog shelter.

Bower only facing misdemeanor charges. Investigators said that they would like to charge Bower with more serious offenses but Ohio has no laws regarding bestiality.

(KLTV - June 20, 2011)

Earlier:

• Ohio: Peter Bower accused of having sex with dogs, horse sparks demand for harsher bestiality law

Ohio: Peter Bower accused of having sex with dogs, horse sparks demand for harsher bestiality law

OHIO -- A Richland County man was charged with animal cruelty after he allegedly had sex with RAPED a dog he adopted from the shelter last month.

Peter Bower, 31, faces the misdemeanor charge after Richland County's dog warden received an e-mail tip in mid-May.

"The tip was allegations about bestiality, sexual conduct with an animal," said Richland County Dog Warden Dave Jordan.

The tip included links to bestiality-themed Web sites, where Jordan told 10TV's Glenn McEntyre he found evidence, including photos, of Bower with multiple animals, including at least three dogs and possibly a horse.

Investigators executed a search warrant at Bower's apartment where they seized the 3-year-old shepherd mix and his computer.

According to records obtained by 10TV News, a bestiality book titled "Dearest Pet" was seized, along with plastic signs that read "Pets Welcome" and a plastic, blow-up sheep.

"That's disgusting," said Rosario DeLeon, a neighbor.  "It's not right."

DeLeon said that Bower hung fliers in his apartment complex that offered pet-sitting services.

"(Bower) asked me if I would let him walk my dog and I said, 'I can't afford for you to walk my dog.'  He said, 'I'll do it for free.'"

DeLeon recalled the day last month when she saw Bower bring his dog home from the shelter.

"He had a sign that said, 'Just Married,'" DeLeon said.  "I was (thinking) who in the world did he get married to?  I didn't see it in the paper, and (I found out) he was talking about his dog, Tara."

Investigators said that they would like to charge Bower with more serious offenses but Ohio has no laws regarding bestiality.

Ohio State Rep. Jay Goyal said that he plans to introduce legislation that would outlaw sexual contact with animals because of the Bower case.

He said that he hopes the crime would be considered a felony.

Bower was unavailable for comment, McEntyre reported.

(10tv - June 17, 2011)