Animal cruelty charge in Harmony dog abuse

HARMONY – A Harmony woman has been charged with animal cruelty after police discovered a pregnant German shepherd dead outside her home Wednesday and four more dogs with no food or water.

Mary Daggett, 37, of 12 Highland Ave., was charged with one count – at this point – of cruelty to animals, Maine State Police Trooper James Medeiros said Sunday.

On Wednesday, state police executed a search warrant at the home after learning that the animals had been left alone. The outdoor temperature at that time was 10 to 15 degrees below zero, without the wind chill factored in, Medeiros said.

One pregnant 2-year-old German shepherd was found dead outside the home, Medeiros said, although it did have access to shelter. Four more German shepherds, ranging in age from 1 to 7 years old, also were discovered on the property. One of the surviving dogs was also pregnant, he said.

The deceased dog and the four surviving animals all were examined by a local veterinarian, but no reports were available Sunday, Medeiros said. The dog died the previous day, he said, noting no official cause of death had yet been determined. Of the surviving dogs, two were in better condition than the others, he said.

The surviving shepherds have been seized and will be kept as evidence until it is determined that homes can be found for them.

Daggett had left the home because of the extreme cold weather, Medeiros said, noting the house was more of a shelter with a small wood-burning stove. The dogs had access in and out of the building.

Daggett was located several days later and charged.

Last week, area residents had contacted a local shelter in an effort to have Daggett’s animals checked on, Medeiros said, and eventually he was contacted.

The Department of Agriculture’s animal welfare division has come under fire in the recent past for not adequately responding to these types of cases.

“This case had been brought to them last summer,” Medeiros said. “It took one of the dog’s dying before something happened.”