This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.

The heartbreaking discovery of a dog whose skeletal body was discarded behind an abandoned building in Ohio led police on a search for the person responsible. The suspect was arrested for his disturbing and cruel crime and must be held accountable for the suffering he caused.

The dog, a three-year-old Cane Corso, was starved to death and dumped in a crate behind a building in Liberty Township in January.

The dog’s red collar, which was once so tight it was embedded in his skin, was protruding from his emaciated neck. Butler County Dog Warden Kurt Merbs would later tell reporters, “…you can literally see every bone in its body.” 

The crate was relatively clean, leading officials to believe the dog had died before being put into the crate and abandoned.

The crime prompted Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones to take to social media to seek help identifying the heartless person who committed this crime, announcing in a statement, “We posted this case on social media to get the word out that not only were we looking for the subject responsible for this heinous act but to let offenders know, you can run but you cannot hide.”

The effort paid off, and a tip led investigators to an arrest. On February 7, Clarence Thomas Jr., of Liberty Township, was arrested and charged with a fifth-degree felony for animal cruelty, which is punishable with up to a year in prison and a fine of $2500, and for abandoning an animal, which is punishable with up to a year in prison and a $750 fine.

He has since been found guilty and will be sentenced on August 4. 

What YOU Can Do

This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.