Cortland man accused of seriously injuring puppy charged with intimidating witnesses

Staff report

CORTLAND

Collin J. Macaulay, 19, of Gates Street has been charged with two felony counts of intimidation of a witness and one count of violating a new felony animal-cruelty law referred to as “Goddard’s Law.”

“Goddard’s Law” was approved by the Ohio Legislature earlier this year and signed by Gov. John Kasich on June 13.

The law makes it a fifth-degree felony to knowingly cause serious physical harm to a companion animal. This includes depriving a pet of food, water or shelter or inflicting long-term pain, according to Fox 8 television station in Cleveland. The law is named for Fox 8 meterorologist Dick Goddard.

Cortland police said they were called to Macaulay’s home Monday after neighbors reported hearing what sounded like animal abuse involving Macaulay’s pit-bull puppy, which is 6 months old.

Police found the puppy to have signs of abuse and turned it over to agents from the Trumbull County Dog Warden’s Office and Animal Cruelty Task Force.

Officers left while they awaited the results of an evaluation of the puppy.

The Animal Welfare League of Trumbull County later advised a veterinarian had diagnosed the dog with face trauma, two fractured teeth, a swollen abrasion on its muzzle and a possible sinus and eye-socket fracture.

While officers were waiting for that report, the original caller contacted police, saying Macaulay came to their door demanding to talk to them and threatening to “get even” and purportedly making other threats related to them calling police.

Macaulay was taken to the Trumbull County Jail and will be arraigned today in Central District Court.