5 dogs, 4 cats likely died of starvation. officials say

Staff report

WARREN

An Animal Welfare League official said she is “fairly certain” that the five dogs and four cats found dead at a home on Hamilton Street Southwest Wednesday died of starvation.

Debbie Agostinelli, shelter director, said the organization is hoping to interview the two adults who lived in the home — Tiffany Charlton and Michael Kelley — but first has to find them.

By sometime next week, Agostinelli said she believes it’s possible both will be charged with animal cruelty.

Agostinelli said Kelley was at the home Wednesday morning at some point and tied up a dog at the house that was running loose.

Kelley left a short time later and didn’t return, Agostinelli said.

Warren police officers went to the house at 9 a,m. Wednesday shortly after Michelle Goss, human investigator with the Animal Welfare League, discovered the dead animals.

One dead dog was on the living room floor, partially covered by a bed mattress, two others were on the living room couch. The two others were in bedrooms, a Warren police report said.

The house had dog feces all over the floor and furniture with rotting food and garbage throughout, police said.

One live dog in the back yard was taken to the Animal Welfare League offices in Lordstown. It is “doing better” and has fairly minor health problems, Agostinelli said.