CUYLER, N.Y. — Two people have been charged with animal cruelty after authorities found a dog in an emaciated condition that was allegedly under their care.
On Monday, investigators from the Cortland Community SPCA's Law Enforcement Department, with assistance from the Cortland County Sheriff's Department, arrested two residents from the town of Cuyler on animal cruelty charges.
Brad M. Bush, 34, of West Keeney Road, and Tina I. Bush, 52, of East Keeney Road, were each charged with one count of animal cruelty, a misdemeanor. Both are due back in court Jan. 11.
A top-down view of Lyla, a dog that was found in an emaciated condition in the town of Cuyler last week (Photo: Cortland Community SPCA)
The arrest came when Country Acres Pet Services, an animal shelter based in Homer, received a tip about a dog that had come into their shelter in November in an emaciated condition, according to Bill Carr, chief investigator for the Cortland Community SPCA.
That launched a joint investigation involving the Homer animal shelter and the dog control officer for the town of Cuyler.
After the arrest was made, the dog control officer and SPCA shelter workers also seized several dogs from Brad Bush for being unlicensed.
Investigators say further charges are possible if any of the dogs seized are in a similar condition to the dog that was found on the initial arrest.
