Man who left starving dog chained to tree for four years fined $25

An Ohio man who allegedly left his starving, flea-infested animal chained to a tree for four years defended his actions by saying, "The dog is not a human." Jeremy Shane Tempe was arrested at his Middletown home on Sept. 27 after police were told that the dog was being mistreated at the property.

Officers reportedly arrived to find a mangy, severely emaciated German shepherd tethered to a tree in the backyard. Covered in sores and tick bites, the poor 60-pound animal was shedding fur from malnourishment, and most of his teeth had disappeared. Temple allegedly told police and Butler County Dog Wardens that the dog’s skeletal appearance was from summertime weight loss.

He reportedly said his dog was being kept in such conditions because "The dog is not a human." The pet, renamed Joseph from Toby in tribute to the biblical character left for dead by his brothers only to later become a leader, was taken in by the nonprofit PAWS Adoption Center. Staff, who have so far spent $1,200 covering the animal’s medical costs, said it was "the worst case of animal abuse" they had ever seen.

Temple was fined $25, but also faces charges of cruelty to a companion animal, having an unlicenced dog, and improper chaining or tethering. The maximum penalty for the cruelty charge, a misdemeanor, is said to be six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. He will reappear in court on Oct. 14. Volunteers at PAWS said Joseph is "doing better these days" and is expected to make a full recovery before being put up for adoption.

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