Members of rescue group charged with stealing, euthanizing dog

GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WHNS/Gray News) – Members of an animal rescue group in South Carolina have been charged with stealing a dog and euthanizing him, according to officials.

Greenville County animal crimes investigator Darren Britt said he often encounters animals in horrific situations, but a picture of the dog named Loey stopped him in his tracks.

“It was a very bad case, probably one of the worst I’ve seen posted like that,” he said.

The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office said animal rescue group Anakin’s Trails stole the 14-year-old cocker spaniel from his own yard and had him put down without his owner’s knowledge.

“Obviously, we’re going to look into it. We always do when we see stuff like that,” Britt said.

Britt found out about the case several days later when the group posted photos of the dog.

“This one seemed like a very awful case. The way it was portrayed, the dog was in the middle of nowhere, on a power pole, no food, water, that he was so bad off that he had to be euthanized,” Britt said.

Britt said he went to question Loey’s owner.

“We go out there and basically knock and talk. Nobody was obviously expecting us or anything like that,” Britt said. “She shows us where she kept the dog, kept Loey. Obviously, when we walked over there, we saw the dog houses, the four-by-four fence post with a trolley system on it, and all of that was out there.”

Britt said the photos of the dog are deceptive, and the conditions are better than what would be assumed.

“Obviously, I’m shocked. I was flabbergasted that it was the setup because it was nothing that I had imagined. I imagined a field in the middle of nowhere and a power pole,” Britt said. “We got her side of the story, so our next stop is obviously going out to the vet’s office. She’s not surprised that we showed up because she said it was very odd, the situation.”

Investigators said Loey was diagnosed with heart failure a year earlier and was taking medication.

When Anakin’s Trails brought him to the vet, he was again diagnosed with heart failure.

The veterinarian provided two options: either put him down or possibly treat him.

Britt said the suspects told the vet his owner surrendered him, and they chose euthanasia.

The vet told Britt these conversations were recorded.

“She was able to provide video footage of inside the vet office and also a recorded phone call with one of the individuals, and at that point, it was pretty obvious. I was shocked, really,” Britt said.

Four suspects are out on bond.