Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Three of the dogs had to be euthanized.
staff report
BOARDMAN — The pastor of an East Western Reserve Road church is charged with animal cruelty.
Timothy L. Hayes, 35, is charged in Mahoning County Court with five counts of animal cruelty. He is scheduled to appear in court Aug. 6.
Hayes is the pastor of Woodworth Church of the Brethren. The church, also of East Western Reserve, owns the house.
Hayes couldn’t be reached. The family was out of town at a church camp when authorities were called to the home, the report said.
Township police were called to 102 E. Western Reserve Road on Monday morning on a report of four neglected dogs. An anonymous neighbor reported that on July 19, a resident of the home put out trash cans for collection but no one had been seen since.
The neighbor moved the cans back near the house July 22 and said that no one has been seen stopping in to care for the three dogs outside and one locked in a breezeway.
The dog in the breezeway was surrounded by feces, the report said.
A pug and a mixed breed were staked together outside, sharing a doghouse.
A husky also was staked outside with no shelter, the report said.
Police called humane agents with Animal Charity, who took the dogs as well as a rabbit that was in a cage in the garage.
The neighbor had been caring for the dogs outside, the report said, but was concerned about not being able to access the dog in the breezeway.
Joe Borosky, Animal Charity humane agent, said the three dogs that were outside had to be euthanized. They suffered from a general lack of care and were unhealthy, he said.
The dog in the breezeway, a Pomeranian, and the rabbit remain at Animal Charity and are expected to be available for adoption.
A township zoning official also responded to the home, but no home-rule citations have been issued.
Borosky said Hayes returned from the church camp after someone contacted him. The agent said that Hayes inquired about getting the animals back.