Good samaritan makes gruesome discovery when returning dogs

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Performing a good deed to help two dogs turned into a lot more than animal advocate Jason Cooke expected.

On Tuesday, Cooke transported Daz, a pit-bull terrier, and Bruno, a golden retriever, from a Youngstown residence to Angels for Animals in Canfield to be neutered and receive appropriate shots.

When he tried to return Daz, there was no response at the residence.

Cooke contacted the owner, who had a relative come to the house in the 500 block of East Lucius Avenue. Unfortunately, when the relative gained entry, he came back out of the house distraught. Cooke said he entered the house and saw that the resident was dead of an apparent heroin overdose.

The police were called and questioned Cooke and the relative. Cooke said he explained his reason for being at the residence. “I was just trying to help the family with their dogs,” Cooke said. “The police were very nice when I explained why I was there.”

Cooke said the experience was unsettling. “You read about this in the newspaper and hear about it on TV,” he said. “You don’t expect it to affect your life.

He noted he had spoken earlier in the day to the person who died when he picked up the dogs.

Read more about the situation in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.