OAK HILL, W.Va. — A Fayette County resident faces eight charges of animal cruelty after he allegedly neglected to provide food or proper shelter for his dog and her litter of puppies.
Michael Wayne Harrah Jr., 43, of Oak Hill, was arrested after an investigation by Animal Control, which had received a complaint about dogs living on a porch at a home on Berry St. in Oak Hill. The investigating officer found an adult female dog outside the residence, and later discovered several puppies underneath a van that was parked nearby. The animals were seized and taken to a local shelter. A neighbor of Harrah later found two more puppies, and brought them to the shelter. One of them later died, apparently from neglect and malnutrition.
In addition to the animal cruelty charges, Harrah was cited for violating a local leash ordinance. He was taken to Southern Regional Jail. His bond was set at $7,500.