Burgess pleads in dog shelter case

TROY - A New Carlisle man accused of running a dog rescue and adoption center in Piqua before city officials shut it down after it was declared a public nuisance and health hazard pleaded guilty Monday as charged to a total of 14 misdemeanor counts following a pretrial hearing in municipal court.

Jeff Burgess, 57, the former owner of One More Chance Rescue and Adoption, once located at 125 Clark Ave., entered the guilty pleas to a variety of related counts of animal cruelty and violations regarding rabies, immunization, quarantine and unsanitary conditions, in addition to three other counts related to prescription drugs found inside the facility back when it was raided last November.

A presentence investigation was ordered, but no sentencing date was set…

…Only a few dogs died, and all other dogs were adopted out to happy homes, officials with the clean up process said…more

Commissioners hire attorney for animal cruelty cases

Tuscarawas County commissioners set the pay scale Monday for an attorney hired by the Tuscarawas County Humane Society to prosecute animal cruelty cases.

J. Jeffrey Holland of Sharon Center will be paid $50 per hour for out-of-court services and $60 per hour for in-court services, with a maximum fee of $1,000 per case. His salary will be paid by the county, and there is no limit to the number of cases he is allowed to handle.

The humane society passed a resolution on July 21 to appoint Holland as legal counsel to prosecute cases relating to cruelty to animals and neglect of animals. The society is authorized to do so by Section 2931.18 Section 2931.18 of the Ohio Revised Code...more

Puppy Survives Without Food, Water for Weeks

A six-month-old puppy is being called a miracle dog after surviving for nearly a month in an abandoned home without food or water...see video

Sam Mazzola's death surrounded in even more controversy than his life

New details emerging in the investigation in to Sam Mazzola's and the animals left behind…see video

Teen boy chained Mazzola

Mazzola’s death is another chapter in the story of the controversial wild animal owner. For years, he was the subject of complaints and investigations concerning the animals he kept at his North Marks Road home in Columbia Station and the bear wrestling act he operated before it was shut down...more

FOX 8 WJW - Cleveland: Mazzola's Animals Removed

As the investigation continues into the death of exotic animal trainer Sam Mazzola, dozens of animals are being removed from his sanctuary in Lorain County. Fox 8's Jack Shea has the story...see video