Man whose dogs were shot by police faces cruelty charge

Ann Schiffer, adoption counselor with the Toledo Area Humane Society, holds Chloe, a mixed-breed dog seized for a cruelty investigation after Toledo police shot the owners' two other dogs.

A South Toledo man has been charged with animal cruelty for a dog seized March 26 after its companions were shot and killed by Toledo police.

In an affidavit filed by the Toledo Area Humane Society last week in Toledo Municipal Court, James Good, 38, of 1442 Beecham St., is alleged to have deprived a 10-year-old mixed-breed dog of adequate veterinary care, a second-degree misdemeanor. The document states the dog was in “extreme poor condition” being very thin with a growth on the left front leg. The dog also had a limp.

Neither Mr. Good nor his girlfriend, Sanjuana Gomez, returned phone calls from The Blade seeking comment.

Chloe’s condition was discovered when Toledo police responded to a call about the family’s two other dogs fighting. Officers shot both dogs, which a spokesman said was to eliminate the threat posed by the attacking dog and to put the wounded victim dog out of its misery.

The family said the incident was poorly handled as the first dog was shot in front of a 12-year-old boy, and the boy and his 10-year-old sister heard from inside the house the second dog being shot. Police left the dead dogs uncovered in a pool of blood at the scene.

Chloe was taken to the Lucas County Canine Care & Control before being transferred to the humane society, where she will be held as the case continues.

Gary Willoughby, executive director at the humane society, said Chloe weighed 33 pounds on intake and her ribs were showing. She had hookworms and whipworms, a mammary mass, a tumor on her front leg, scarring and hair loss on her ears, and long toenails.

“She just basically wasn’t taken care of,” Mr. Willoughby said. “She was in overall not very great shape. With just normal care, she’s a different dog.”

Chloe now weighs 47 pounds. She was dewormed and her nails were trimmed. Mr. Willoughby said the organization has not addressed her mammary mass or tumor as Mr. Good has not surrendered ownership and they do not appear to be an immediate threat to the dog’s life.

Mr. Good was issued a summons to appear in court Monday for arraignment.

Contact Alexandra Mester: amester@theblade.com, 419-724-6066, or on Twitter @AlexMesterBlade.