WALDOBORO, Maine — A Waldoboro man faces a charge of animal cruelty after the “prolonged neglect” of his English setter resulted in the dog’s euthanization.
John Osier, 49, was charged after an investigation by a Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office animal control officer and the Waldoboro Police Department.
On Sept. 8, a resident of Wagner Bridge Road in Waldoboro called to report finding an apparently stray dog that was in very poor health.
Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Officer Julie Groleau arrived and found the dog, an older English setter. The dog appeared thin and malnourished, with numerous open sores and much of its fur missing. The dog had no collar, and the caller did not know who the owner was.
The dog was taken to the Boothbay Animal Hospital and assessed by a veterinarian.
The doctor said the dog’s condition was the result of prolonged neglect. The doctor said that because of the dog’s extreme condition, the most humane option was euthanasia. This procedure was done to prevent the dog from further suffering.
A few hours later, Osier called to report his dog missing.
After confirming it was the same dog, Osier was told the dog had been euthanized. Osier said he was aware of the dog’s health issues and said the dog had not been seen by a veterinarian in more than eight years.
Osier was later issued a criminal summons for animal cruelty.
The sheriff’s office asks anyone with more information about the investigation to contact Groleau at 882-7332.