Man accused of starving dogs to appear in court Monday

One of the dogs rescued from the home of Charles Wilson, of Williamsburg, last week.

A Williamsburg man who has been cited to Whitley District Court on one count of cruelty to animals after two dead dogs were found in a pen outside his home and others were found severely malnourished will make his first appearance in court Monday
Sixty-eight-year-old Charles Wilson is scheduled to be arraigned on the misdemeanor charge in Williamsburg.

According to Sheriff Colan Harrell, deputies have been working with Whitley County Animal Control since May 19 to remove 12 animals from Wilson’s home that were discovered when deputies David Lennon and Cody Harrell went to the home in response to a complaint concerning abuse of an individual.

One dog in an outside pen was removed by animal control Friday and taken to the Knox-Whitley Animal Shelter.

“Due to family circumstances, deputies elected to cite Mr. Wilson to court instead of arresting him,” Harrell said, adding that Wilson signed the owner surrender paperwork allowing animal control to return to the home Saturday to collect the remaining dogs.

The dog removed Friday, along with one other, were transported by volunteers to The Arrow Fund Rescue in Louisville.

Two others had to be euthanized.

The remaining dogs were sent to Magnificent Mutts Rescue in Hillsdale, Ill.

Officials at Magnificent Mutts stated on the organization’s Facebook page that all of the dogs are being treated for yeast infection and have mange.

“They’re getting and will continue to get medicated baths with special shampoos,” officials stated. “They are all getting antibiotics and will start heartworm preventative medicine.

Officials at the rescue are asking for donations to help cover vet, medicine and food costs for the dog.

More information is available on the group’s Facebook page.

Linda Latelle, owner of the rescue group, said she is in the process of finding foster homes for each of the dogs.

“I want to see each one of these dogs with no other pets,” Latelle said, noting the dogs are depressed and have no social skills.

“Basically they are existing,” Latelle said, noting the dogs need socialization with humans in an effort to make them adoptable at some point.

“It is going to be a long process,” Latelle said.

Because of their condition, Latelle said the dogs remain under a vet’s care and donations for the care, the medicines and food for the dogs are welcome and appreciated.

Magnificent Mutts has a Paypal account. The email address is tritown1@aol.com.

For those who may prefer to donate directly to the vet, Latelle said the dogs are under the care of Elmhurst Animal Care Center and after getting them back to health, they will be spayed/neutered.

“Anyone that would like to send a care package of toys, baby blankets or treats is welcome to do so,” Latelle said, noting the rescue’s mailing address is available online at www.magnificentmutts.com.

“We would like for each of the dogs to have their own baby blanket,” she said.

Whitley County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy KY Fuson said Wilson told deputies that at one time, all of the dogs were staying in the house. However, the three that were in the pen were moved outside because they were fighting.

“Wilson said the other dog had killed them,” Fusion said when asked what happened to the two that were dead.

Harrell said since video of the situation appeared on Facebook, his office has been inundated with calls not only from Whitley County, but across the country.