John Burroughs gets 6 months for dogs' deaths, lifetime ban on owning animals

YOUNGSTOWN

A city man responsible for the death of two dogs will serve six months in jail, and a Mahoning County judge forbade him from ever owning an animal again.

John Burroughs, 67, of Hilltop Avenue, had pleaded guilty to two counts of prohibitions concerning companion animals for the death of two dogs found on his Hilltop Avenue property in January.

Assistant Prosecutor Martin Hume asked Judge Lou A. D’Apolito to make an example out of Burroughs.

“We want to make sure others who have animals are aware of the consequences if they don’t live up to their responsibilities,” Hume said.

Animal Charity Humane Society investigators found two puppies covered in feces, two adult dogs who appeared slightly underfed in addition to the two dead dogs in the woods when they arrived at Burroughs’ property.

An autopsy showed that the dead dogs had rocks and straw in their stomachs, Hume said.

Read more about the case in Wednesday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.