Sheriff Bobby Jones reports the arrest of two people after a dog was found to have suffered serious physical injury and malnourishment.
The investigation began on February 26 when Detective Ryan Jones with the Sheriff’s Office’s Criminal Investigation Division received a report of a dog, “Samson,” that had possibly been mistreated. The person reporting Samson’s mistreatment told Det. Jones that he had picked up Samson on February 25 after being made aware of Samson’s condition.
Det. Jones coordinated with Pulaski County Animal Control and the Humane Society to get Samson to the Somerset Animal Hospital for immediate treatment. Samson had a four-inch laceration to his neck where a chain and hook had embedded in his neck. This had to be surgically removed. Samson was also malnourished and weighed only thirty-five pounds, when a healthy weight for his breed and age should be sixty pounds.
Det. Jones went to the residence in Somerset, where Samson had been removed from the day prior. Det. Jones investigated the scene and conducted interviews.
On March 2, Det. Jones secured arrest warrants for two people at Samson’s former residence. Caleb Martin, 23, and Cali Webster, 22, both of Science Hill, were both arrested on the warrants, charging them with Torture of a Dog or Cat, a Class “D” felony in Kentucky. Both Martin and Webster were lodged in the Pulaski County Detention Center, where they both remain on $10,000 cash or property bonds.
Samson was released from Somerset Animal Hospital and is currently being fostered.
Det. Jones was assisted in the investigation by Pulaski County Animal Control, the Humane Society, Lt. Richard Smith, Deputy Daniel Drury, and Deputy Zachary Huff.
