Animals
Washington Man Allegedly Abused Puppy Because It Defecated On His Couch
A Washington man is facing animal cruelty charges for allegedly throwing and hitting a puppy in front of witnesses because it defecated in the house.
The Spokane Valley Police Department said deputies and a Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service (SCRAPS) officer responded at around 8:30 p.m. on June 10 to a report of animal abuse on the 300 block of S. Skipworth Road in Spokane Valley.
Police said the caller reported that an adult man “threw, hit, and abused” an approximately 12-week old puppy, which cried and yelped as a result. Additional witnesses provided written statements and evidence detailing the alleged abuse.
Officers contacted the puppy’s owners, identified as 39-year-old Christopher R. Myers and an unnamed adult woman. The woman said she was inside at the time of the alleged abuse and was not aware of it.
Police said Myers initially refused to exit the home as requested, but eventually complied, and initially told officers he couldn’t remember what happened to the puppy. After continued questioning, he allegedly admitted taking the puppy outside because it defecated on the couch, then when he stepped in dog feces on the porch he “tossed” the puppy into the grass.
Myers declined to surrender the puppy to animal control at the time. After reviewing the evidence and witness statements, a SCRAPS officer applied for and was granted a search warrant to seize the puppy and bring it to an emergency veterinarian for evaluation.
Deputies were also granted a search warrant for the residence, but it was not ultimately served because “Myers peacefully surrendered.”
Myers was booked into the Spokane County Jail on charges of felony first-degree animal cruelty and misdemeanor second-degree animal cruelty.
