For the City Times

NEKOOSA – On Nov. 12, officers from the Nekoosa Police Department responded to an anonymous complaint of alleged animal neglect. The complainant reported that they believed two dogs had been abandoned at a house on Second Street in the city of Nekoosa.

When officers arrived, two pit bull type dogs were observed barking inside the home. Officers learned that an 11-year-old neighbor boy had been periodically feeding the dogs because the owners had not been seen at the home for approximately two weeks. The boy also reported that he saw a deceased cat in the home.

Officers entered the home and the two dogs were detained by Wood County Humane Society employees. Inside the home, deceased animals were located including a cat, rabbit, snake, and fish. Animal feces were observed in every room of the home and the furnace thermostat was in the “off” position, registering a temperature of 36 degrees.

The owners of the animals, Dallas J. McKinney, 22, and Jessica R. Ramos, 30, now living in Milladore, both stated that they checked on the animals periodically over the past several weeks. However, officers were unable to locate any food or water in the home. A veterinarian determined that the cat and rabbit likely died of dehydration and starvation.

McKinney and Ramos were taken into custody and booked into jail on six counts of animal abandonment, six counts of improper animal shelter, six counts of improper animal shelter, six counts of failure to provide food for an animal, six counts of failure to provide water for an animal, three counts of misdemeanor mistreatment of animals, three counts of felony mistreatment of animals on Nov. 13.

McKinney and Ramos appeared in court and received a $2,500 signature bond pending further court proceedings.

Nekoosa officers were assisted by South Wood County Humane Society and the Wood County humane officer.