Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office deputies have arrested a father and son in Oakdale on charges of animal cruelty. In a dispatch for a security check on Thursday, law enforcement discovered a grim scene involving ten dogs in dire states of neglect, according to a Facebook post by the Stanislaus Sheriff's Office.
The call that brought deputies to the 8500 block of Oak Creek Court came in early yesterday morning, aiming to check on the welfare of an elderly male. But they soon found themselves arresting Jimmy Haston, 65, and his son Joshua Haston, 42. The officers found not just an elder in need, but a litany of suffering animals, several of them puppies. Some dogs were discovered already dead or left without the most basic necessaries—something as simple yet vital as fresh water was found to be scarce at the scene. Now held on $200,000 bail each, the Hastons await their day in court, presumed innocent until proven otherwise.
Details about the conditions at the Oakdale property paint a concerning picture. "Some were puppies & some were fully grown. One such dog had passed, while others were left without proper food, water or other sustenance," the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office statement revealed. Working closely with county animal control, the deputies ensured that the rescued animals received the urgent care they were long denied. Authorities have not yet released the condition of the surviving dogs.
Responders also had to contend with hazardous conditions within the house itself. The fire department was called to manage toxic fumes that were emanating from the dwelling.
