By FRANK LEWIS

PDT Staff Writer

The Pike County Sheriff’s Office has charged Pike County Dog Warden Randy Mustard with 11 counts of cruelty to animals.

“The allegations are that he supposedly put puppies to sleep, and couldn’t finish the job, and he had them put in a garbage bag and threw them out behind the Dog Pound where they were allegedly found by a lady who had been there to look for her lost dog,” Pike County Prosecutor Rob Junk said Wednesday afternoon. “And apparently she saw that and notified the Sheriff’s Office and they began an investigation. They found that it looks like he had them put in a garbage bag and they were still alive.”

Junk said the Pike County Commissioners have suspended Mustard, but he was uncertain what type of suspension.

“The Sheriff’s Office filed the charges today,” Junk said. “He is due into court at 9 a.m. on Jan. 9. Basically they’re going to issue him a summons on the charges.”

Junk said animal cruelty cases always result in outrage by the public.

“We are going to expect to be getting all kinds of calls over this,” Junk said. “When you’re talking about puppies and abuse, especially somebody who is in charge of caring for animals, people get upset. A dog warden is just not supposed to be doing this.”

Frank Lewis may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 232, or at flewis@heartlandpublications.com.