A year and a half after being convicted on animal cruelty charges, a former Warren, Ohio couple is once again getting attention after moving and leaving their animals behind - abandoned.
In November 2012, Tiffany Charlton and Michael P. Kelley were charged with cruelty to animals after police found dead animals throughout their house and yard. Dead dogs were in the bedroom, living room and hallway. Dead cats were found outside. A total of five dead dogs and four dead cats were removed from the home.
In 2012, Charlton and Kelley each received a 45 day jail sentence along with five years of probation (to end December 20, 2017), according to Warren Municipal Court records.
Currently under Ohio law, most animal abuse cases are first-degree misdemeanors punishable with little or no jail time.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago, when Charlton and Kelley moved away from the trailer they were renting in Centerville, Pa. After their electricity was shut off due to non-payment of bills, the couple abandoned the property. They left behind dogs and cats inside the trailer.
On Thursday,a community outreach program for owners and their pets, brought food, water and leashes for the dogs. They helped clean and let the animals outside. Reportedly the floors were covered in feces and there was no food or water in sight.
Under Pennsylvania law, the animals cannot be removed from the property without a visit from the police or humane officer, and a search warrant must be obtained.
Advocates of “Goddard’s Law,” which is currently being considered by Ohio legislature, can use this case as an example as to why stricter laws are so urgently needed in Ohio and other states which are lenient on animal abusers. And why laws need to be enforced. If Goddard’s Law passes, it will be a fifth-degree felony in Ohio to kill or injure a companion animal or to deprive one of food, water, or shelter.
The Facebook page set up to campaign for and follow the progress of the proposed law is Ohio Alliance for Animal Cruelty Reform.
Since the dogs are still in the trailer as of this date, on their Facebook page, Hope for Erie Animal Wellness invites the community to "call the Crawford County HS and stress you(r) concern for these dogs... Please be mature and calm when calling but do stress your concern about their justice. As a community we need to rally together and start standing up for what is right!"
THE LAWS NEED TO BE STRICTER, AND THESE PEOPLE SHOULD BE BANNED FOR LIFE, FROM EVER OWNING ANIMALS AGAIN!!
iT ALSO SHOWS THAT LETTING ABUSERS OFF EASY, ONLY LEADS TO FURTHER ABUSE DOWN THE LINE.
