Man charged with animal cruelty
Published 10:09 am Tuesday, June 4, 2019
A pig was euthanized this weekend after it was attacked by several dogs, and the owner is facing multiple charges from the incident.
Larry R. Howard, 61, of 104 Sterling St., was charged with six counts of second-degree cruelty to animals after his dogs attacked his pig Saturday.
According to court documents, Winchester Police officers were called to the residence Saturday night and found two dogs actively attacking a “medium-sized” pig. After using batons and pepper spray on the dogs, they finally released the pig, which later had to be euthanized because of his injuries.
Officers found five dogs and two pigs on the property, and said the animals had shared the same space for some time. Officers said it appeared the dogs were trying to eat the pig.
The dogs, officers said, appeared emaciated but were friendly when separated. Officers said food appeared limited for the dogs and there was no food for the pigs. There was no apparent clean water available, though officers found pools of water which were covered in heavy algae, according to court documents.
According to the citation, Howard told officers he had become overwhelmed and could not care for the dogs property.
He later surrendered all five dogs to the Clark County Animal Shelter, police said.
The pig, whose snout was bitten off, was euthanized, officers said. Clark County Animal Shelter Director Adreanna Wills said the second pig was left at the residence because it was deemed not to be in danger.
Howard is scheduled to be arraigned June 24 in Clark District Court.