Felony arrest warrants sought for suspects after starving dogs and dying goat found at Arkansas-side house

Arrest warrants on felony animal cruelty and neglect charges are being sought in an Arkansas-side case involving four starving dogs and a dying goat.

Two neglected dogs visible in the yard prompted animal control officers to execute a search and seizure warrant at 309 Laurel St. on Friday, Animal Services Director Charles Lokey said. Multiple attempts to make contact with the home's residents had failed.

Officers rescued the two dogs outside and entered the house, which Lokey called "a little house of hell" in disheveled condition, with dog feces, garbage and children's toys on the floor. The house had no electric service and was completely closed, with no ventilation.

Inside they found a male goat unable to stand, with no food or water available, "wallowing in its own feces and urine," according to Lokey's incident report.

Hearing more animals behind a padlocked door, officers used bolt cutters to gain entry and found two more starving dogs in a room inside the house. One had an injured right rear leg "covered with a dirty homemade bandage."

All the animals were diagnosed with malnourishment and dehydration and were infested with fleas and parasites.

The goat died under veterinary care Friday night. The dogs are expected to recover.

Officers identified the home's residents by evidence inside and information from neighbors. As of Monday afternoon, a judge had not yet signed arrest warrants for them, so Animal Services did not release their names.

Look for more on the story in Tuesday's print and online editions of the Gazette.

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