PUTNAM COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) – A man is facing 20 counts of cruelty to animals after an incident led humane officers to his home where dozens of malnourished and dead puppies were found.
According to court documents, on Oct. 30, the Putnam County Animal Shelter received a complaint about dogs running loose along Grandview Ridge Road.
During one incident, the criminal complaint states several dogs chased a cat onto a homeowner’s porch. The homeowner told officers the dogs would not leave and continued to growl.
To protect himself and his cat, the criminal complaint says the owner told officers he shot and killed two dogs and wounded another.
Humane officers located the owners of the dogs involved in the situation along Grandview Ridge Road in Buffalo.
When humane officers arrived at the home, puppies of different ages were found on the property, all malnourished.
The owners told officers they were unaware of how many dogs were on the property.
On Oct. 31, a search warrant was obtained, and officials seized all dogs and animals living on the property.
The criminal complaint states a dead puppy was found lying under the side of the porch and another dead puppy was found in a garbage bag on a wheelbarrow.
All puppies found on the property were malnourished, sickly and most were unable to move, the criminal complaint states.
Court documents report there was also a decomposing deer found inside an open barn located on the property.
In total, three adult dogs, 17 puppies and two deceased puppies were taken from the property and are now in possession of the Putnam County Animal Control.
A .22 LR caliber camo Crickett rifle was also found lying in plain view on a stack of clothes in a bedroom at the home.
Edward Parsons told officers the rifle belonged to him.
Criminal history showed that Parson was convicted of domestic assault in Kanawha County in 2017 as well as delivery of a controlled substance in 2012.
After an additional search warrant was obtained, the rifle was seized by law enforcement and placed into evidence.
Parson was charged with 20 counts of cruelty to animals, one count of conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor, and one count of misdemeanor person prohibited of possessing a firearm.
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