Dead dog was victim of fight, not cold weather

Staff report

NEW MIDDLETOWN

A dog found dead outside a village home died from injuries suffered 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 low 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. Authorities found a gash near the dead animal’s neck.

“People have been saying it died because of the cold,” the police chief said. “That is absolutely not the case.”

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.

A Facebook post from Animal Charity said the investigation is continuing,

D’Egidio said he would follow up Monday with that agency.

Nelson said Animal Charity put a hold on the dog to have it checked out by a veterinarian before it’s either buried or cremated.

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. By law, outside animals must be provided shelter, food and unfrozen water.

The animal welfare officials said dog houses and shelters for outdoor cats should be elevated off the ground because of snow and water, and should be packed with straw for bedding, providing insulation. Blankets and cloth bedding shouldn’t be used because they can get wet and freeze, they noted.

Three animal rescue organizations, Legacy Dog Rescue, Never Muzzled and Youngstown Dogs, gave out free straw Saturday for owners of outside pets. Their effort provided straw to the owners of 160 dogs and a chicken.