The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Man found guilty of animal cruelty
A 66-year-old Elyria man pleaded no contest and was found guilty Oct. 11 of cruelty to animals in connection to his dog, Ace.
Harry Stevenson, of 21 Artemas Court, was sentenced to 60 days in jail, with 57 of them suspended. Stevenson also was fined $500, with $350 of it suspended.
According to Stevenson’s docket, he was ordered by Elyria Municipal Court Judge Gary C. Bennett that he can’t possess any dogs for two years starting Oct. 11.
Stevenson had turned himself in June 23 after concerned citizens alerted the Friendship Animal Protective League about the injured dog.
Humane officers with the Friendship APL investigated the concerns after receiving phone messages about the young dog at Stevenson’s house.
It was learned that the dog was injured and the wound was infected, authorities said.
According to an Elyria police report, a neighbor noticed the injury when she went to feed Ace. She cut off the harness that was around the dog’s torso and replaced it with a collar she purchased.
The report said the woman had purchased items for Ace in the past, including a dog house and chain.
When confronted by the humane officers about Ace and his condition, Stevenson said he would have “shot it,” but was unable to because of his grandchildren, the report said.
The humane officers asked to “meet” Ace, and Stevenson reportedly replied, “We could beat the dog all we wanted,” according to the report.
Upon meeting Ace, the humane officers noticed a wound on his chest. The report said hair was missing around Ace’s sides, chest and ribs where the harness used to be. His skin also was indented, which indicated the harness had been “very tight.”
Humane officers also could smell infection when near Ace, the report said.
Elyria police officers followed up with Stevenson on June 22, and at that time, he claimed Ace was not his dog, but that the animal lived at his address.
He told officers the “embedded harness” was on the dog when he arrived at the Artemas Court residence and admitted he never removed the device.
Stevenson further claimed the dog belonged to his 10-year-old and 15-yearold grandchildren.
The 10-year-old told police the dog was given to her by her mother’s former boyfriend in March 2016 and Stevenson confirmed Ace was at his home the entire time.