Jail suspended for 'Suitcase 6' owner

Howard Davis. Enlarge

A Toledo man who zipped six puppies into a suitcase and left them along with their mother in an alley was back in court for a sentencing review.

Howard Davis, 53, showed proof he has complied with all the orders given by Judge Timothy Kuhlman in an April 24 hearing, including getting both dogs at his residence neutered.

During sentencing, he was ordered to serve 90 days in the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio later, but the jail time was suspended Friday because of he's complied with the previous orders.

He was sentenced to four years of probation during which time he can't get any additional companion animals and can't violate any animal cruelty laws. Otherwise the suspended jail sentence will be reinstated.

After the April hearing, Mr. Davis, of , 1813 Harlan Rd, was visited by cruelty officer Gene Boros and Executive Director John Dinon of the Toledo Area Humane Society.

The two said they advised Mr. Davis that his American bulldog, named Scarface, father of the "Suitcase 6" puppies, should not be left on a tether for extended periods.

"He put up a nice kennel for Scarface, has paid about half the care bond to us and will pay the rest within 30 days," Mr. Dinon said.

Mr. Davis was ordered in April to begin payments to the humane society on a total of $466 in restitution for the care provided to the animals.

The judge dropped a charge against Mr. Davis of abandoning the puppies, and Mr. Davis entered no-contest pleas to two other charges in the case.

The other dog at Mr. Davis' home is a shih tzu.

Mr. Davis originally faced two counts of animal abandonment and a third charge of cruelty to companion animals, defined as a custodian depriving or confining an animal without sustenance or shelter.

At the April 24 hearing, Mr. Davis gave up ownership of the mother and puppies to the humane society, which had cared for them after their discovery behind a Toledo market April 4.

The puppies were found inside a canvas suitcase and abandoned. The mother was tied nearby.

Authorities were led to Mr. Davis by an ID tag with his name and address attached to the bag.

The organization received more than 1,000 phone inquiries from potential adopters in every state nationwide when news of the puppies broke.

The mother dog, Maddie, a bulldog mix, and the three male and three female puppies were adopted May 23.

Contact Tanya Irwin at: tirwin@theblade.com or 419-724-6066.