Pet owner arrested for animal cruelty

One neglected dog dead, others malnourished

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Five dogs were discovered in dire conditions at a residence in Yelm, prompting Joint Animal Services (JAS) and Thurston County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) to rescue the dogs and take action against their owners.

On November 20 last year, TCSO responded to a JAS agency assistance request at a residence on Regal Lane SE due to concerns over the welfare of animals there, considering the history and potential hostility towards authorities.

Upon arrival, it was revealed that the owners of the dogs had been absent for several days, and it was confirmed that the woman had recently been arrested while the man had been confined in the hospital.

The property owner has asked a neighbor to enter the suspects’ home and retrieve the dogs.

The neighbor went into and behind the house, bringing forth four dogs during the first visit and the fifth dog during the second visit on the same day. All five dogs appeared extremely malnourished, covered in fleas and waste, and generally needing differing levels of medical care,” TCSO stated in their police report.

Following the intervention, the dogs were voluntarily relinquished to JAS by the property owner's representative.

A month after the dogs’ retrieval, JAS shared their investigation with TCSO, finding probable cause that the animals had endured severe neglect and cruelty after veterinary examinations and a necropsy on one deceased dog.

On January 26, the dogs’ owners were arrested at a different location for an unrelated incident.

The woman denied being the dog’s owner, and the man, identified by police as Justin Devaney, admitted to being the sole owner of the five dogs.

Justin stated he was the one who had purchased them and was solely responsible for their care in the months leading up to their relinquishment to JAS,” TCSO reported.

The suspect was arrested and transported to Thurston County Jail, where he was booked on five counts of second-degree animal cruelty.

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  • SecondOtter

    LEt's keep these jerks in jail. Don't feed them, no water, no bathroom, no way to clean up, just leave them. Oh, maybe let them fight-that white faced pit bull didn't get those wounds on his nose by trying to open a door. That's the only way to get through to jerks like these.

    Wednesday, March 6 Report this

  • Boatyarddog

    Secondotter

    You think abuse and violence will be helpful IN ANY SITUATION!

    Never works!

    I know this is horrable but let the lessons of War Show that violence breeds vengence.

    Wednesday, March 6 Report this