Willoughby - A Lake County couple in some deep trouble for mistreated man's best friend.
On Tuesday December 4th, Willoughby Police officers were dispatched to the area of St. Clair Extension, east of Erie Road for a dog running loose. Officers found a friendly, but afraid pit bull mix running around loose in the wooded area. The dog looked as if it had been abandoned for days in the close to freezing weather. The suspect left behind a dog cage and old dog pillow.
Officers were unable to catch the dog, but contacted the Lake County Dog Warden for assistance. Officers had checked on the dog numerous times with food before the dog warden was able to retrieve her. The dog had been taken back to the Lake County Animal Shelter, and there was an online collection started to help pay for the veterinarian help she was going to desperately need.
The incident was posted to the Department’s Facebook page in hope of someone being able to identify who was the owner of the dog. On December 7, the officer investigating the case had received information from a source that the pit bull mix lived at a residence in Willoughby.
With the help of this information, the officer was able to identify the owners of Lucy as 39-year-old Alvaro Torres and 36-year-old Heather Pica Torres.
Photos courtesy of Willoughby Police Department
On Wednesday, arrest warrants were issued against Torres and Pica-Torres for Cruelty to Companion Animals “Goddard’s Law,” a Felony of the 5th degree and Unlicensed Dog, a minor misdemeanor.
Both have been cooperative with police and appeared on their own accord at the Willoughby City Jail Wednesday evening for a booking process on the warrants.
An initial appearance in Court was scheduled for Thursday at 8:15am at the Willoughby Municipal Court.
The Lake County Dog Shelter gave an update on Lucy on their Facebook. You can see that below.
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