2 complaints of dogs in cold investigated in New Middletown, Youngstown

Staff report

NEW MIDDLETOWN

A dog found dead outside a village home died from injuries sustained in a fight with another dog, not from exposure, officials said.

Village police, along with officials from the Mahoning County Dog Warden’s office and Animal Charity, investigated a report of a deceased dog Friday at a Woodland Drive home.

Dave Nelson, deputy dog warden, said that agency was flooded with calls after someone posted information about the dog on Facebook, believing it died because of the cold temperatures.

Village Police Chief Vincent D’Egidio said the homeowner has several dogs in an outside pen with a garage attached to provide shelter.

One of the dogs attacked another, killing it, Nelson said.

Nelson said the garage includes heated floor pads, heated water bowls and fresh food for the dogs.

“It’s really state-of-the-art,” he said.

Earlier in the week, the agency, along with Youngs-town police, responded to calls from several people about the welfare of a dog on Parkview Avenue on the city’s South Side, according to an Animal Charity Facebook post. The calls, as well as a video posted on Facebook, showed the dog tied outside.

When officials went to the home, however, the dog was inside, according the Animal Charity’s Facebook post.

Last week, animal welfare officials in Mahoning and Trumbull counties told The Vindicator they believe laws concerning animal care need to be upgraded.

Read more about the incidents and issue in Sunday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.