Former Canton residents get jail time after moving away, leaving dog behind to starve

CANTON ‒ Two Akron residents were ordered to spend two weekends in jail for leaving their dog behind to starve when they moved away from their rented Canton home last year.

The man, 34, and woman, 35, deprived their pit bull of food and water by leaving the pet abandoned in their vacant house in northeast Canton, according to the criminal complaint filed by the Stark County Humane Society .

"This resulted in the dog suffering from malnourishment, causing its death." the complaint said. "A veterinary exam determined the ultimate cause of death was likely due to the lack of adequate nutrition and starvation."

The defendants had moved from the property in November. The landlord found the dog in January.

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The codefendants were indicted on charges of cruelty to companion animals, a felony of the fifth degree punishable by six months to a year in prison and a maximum fine of $2,500.

Both pleaded guilty July 10 to the reduced charge of cruelty to animals, a misdemeanor of the second degree punishable by 90 days in jail and a maximum fine of $750.

Stark County Common Pleas Judge Chryssa N. Hartnett gave them both the same sentence: 90 days in jail, with most of the time suspended on the condition of two years' good behavior. They are prohibited from owning or possessing a companion animal during those two years.

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Jackie Godbey, executive director of the Stark County Humane Society , wrote in an email that there were 10 to 12 similar cases in the county in 2023.

She said the agency investigated 555 cases of animal cruelty and neglect in 2023, resulting in 16 criminal cases.

"We receive calls for welfare checks every day," Godbey wrote. "Some are corrected with education and others are more severe and those face charges of animal cruelty. This year we have had 16 guilty local court cases right here in Stark County."

The humane society has one full-time animal investigator and one part-timer. They have a van and are on-call 24 hours a day to respond to complaints about sick and injured companion animals. They also assist local law enforcement, fire and emergency departments.

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Reach Nancy at 330-580-8382 or nancy.molnar@cantonrep.com.On X, formerly known as Twitter: @nmolnarTR.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Former Canton residents get jail time after moving away, leaving dog behind to starve