Dog found alone in abandoned house; owner charged

NILES, Ohio (WKBN) – A Niles man is facing a criminal charge, accused of leaving his dog alone in a home without access to food or water.

This 8-year-old dog now named Iggy is looking for a new home.

Iggy was found alone inside a house on Hyde Avenue on Sunday when a concerned neighbor called police.

The caller said no one had been at the house for at least a week, and the dog was frantically trying to get out.

“When officers went to check, the house was vacant, except for the animal, and the animal was pretty skinny. House was a mess; animal waste was all over the house,” said Niles Police Capt. John Marshall.

According to a police report, the dog didn’t have access to food or water.

The Healthy Hearts and Paws Project took Iggy in.

“I don’t know what the solution is, but you know, our shelter is being overwhelmed with dogs that are not being taken care of,” said Jason Cooke, of the Healthy Hearts and Paws Project.

The dog’s owner, Dean Kirsch, is now facing a misdemeanor charge. Kirsch was issued a summons to appear in Niles Municipal Court Thursday morning.

“If you are gonna leave, if you’re not gonna be there to take care of your pet, even overnight, have a friend or family member take a look and make sure the animal is OK and has the things that it needs to be healthy,” Marshall said.

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