Animal neglect arrest made

WASHINGTON — At approximately 10:30 p.m. on March 2, the Washington Police Department responded to a report of a dog that had been left unattended for at least a week at Lot 36 of Parkside Estates Road.

Upon investigation, officers observed through a window a dog that appeared in distress and was restrained in a bedroom with no food or water and was surrounded by feces. Entry was made into the residence, and it was discovered the dog was emaciated and secured in a manner that did not allow it to gain access to food or water.

Officers also located another dog in the residence that was deceased and in a state of decomposition.

The injured dog was removed from the residence and placed in the care of PAWS and More Animal Shelter.

On March 4, officers executed a search warrant on the residence and took possession of the deceased dog and gathered additional evidence. The deceased animal was transported to the Iowa State University Department of Veterinary Pathology for examination.

The Washington Police Department filed two counts of Animal Neglect resulting in serious injury or death on Christopher Robert Reed of Washington. Reed, 43, was arrested on a warrant Tuesday, March 8, in Fairfield and transported to the Washington County Jail where he is being held on a $4,000 cash bond.

Both charges filed against Reed are aggravated misdemeanors. Conviction of an aggravated misdemeanor may result in imprisonment not to exceed two years and a fine of at least $855 but not to exceed $8,540.

PAWS and More Animal Shelter, Town and Country Veterinary Clinic, City of Washington Animal Control and the Washington County Attorney’s Office assisted the Police Department in this investigation.

The dog that was rescued is currently in the care of a foster family while it undergoes medical treatment.