A Beech Grove man is facing animal cruelty charges after two dogs were found lifeless and frozen in his backyard. The grim discovery was made by a child on January 16 on Byland Drive, with both dogs found dead in a kennel, prompting a subsequent police investigation, WTHR reported.
Neighbors alerted authorities to the potential neglect by Thomas Neuner, who, after arriving at the property roughly 30 minutes after being contacted by police, stated he had placed the dogs in the kennel due to an errand and had last seen them about three weeks prior, according to FOX59. At the scene, officers observed a water dish with frozen contents, and a power source intended for heating the doghouse and water bowl that was not in use.
Identified as Colton, a 5-year-old Feist, and Lady, a 12-year-old Beagle—the latter was found lying on concrete veiled by snow; and the former inside the kennel with scars indicating another animal may have gnawed at his hindquarters. The two were removed from the property and underwent necropsy, revealing that both dogs succumbed to emaciation, as reported by WRTV.
The initial tip came from a neighbor whose stepsister found the dogs, he had been keeping an eye on the situation after noticing a lack of activity or noise from the dogs for several days.
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